INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

G8 Summit

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the G8 summit in Canada as it relates to trade with developing countries.

Clare Short: The G8 leaders are meeting in Kananaskis today and tomorrow so it is too early to be able to comment on the outcome of discussion of the G8 Action Plan for Africa. The UK is putting forward specific proposals in the key areas of conflict, education, health, development assistance, debt and trade.

G8 Summit

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the G8 summit in respect of international aid.

Clare Short: The G8 Summit is addressing a number of issues of vital significance to developing countries. These include: conflict reduction; trade; debt relief; universal primary education; health, including affordable essential medicines; the effectiveness of development assistance; and support for Afghanistan. A G8 Action Plan for Africa is being drawn up, with the aim of responding to African countries' own efforts to pursue policies aimed at the elimination of poverty and reverse the economic marginalisation of their continent.
	International aid in support of these initiatives should be available from the additional money promised by G8 countries, and the European Union, at the International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey last March. But G8 action in support of poverty elimination requires more than just additional aid. Significant progress also needs to be made in areas such as free-trade access and the reduction of G8 countries' agricultural subsidies. It is essential that G8 countries meet all the commitments they made at Monterrey.

Cuba

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the provision of bilateral aid to Cuba.

Clare Short: We do not have a bilateral aid programme to Cuba, we provide small scale support. The Scheme is appreciated by the Cuban authorities and has recently supported financial management training, export promotion environmental management and organic agriculture. Our share of the EC development programme is $2.6 million per annum which is drawn from the Department for International Development budget.

Belarus and Ukraine

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on how much funding her Department provides to Belarus and the Ukraine.

Clare Short: This year, we plan to provide £16 million to Ukraine, of which half will be through our direct programme and half as our contribution to multilateral agencies, particularly the European Commission Tacis programme. In Belarus, where our programme is limited due to poor government, we expect to provide £0.8 million mostly as our share of the EC Tacis programmes.

Famine (Africa)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on famine in Africa north of the Limpopo.

Clare Short: The causes of food shortages in Southern Africa this year are drought and misgovernment. In Zimbabwe, which accounts for over half of the region's food aid requirements, economic mismanagement and grossly misorganised land reform have massively exacerbated the effects of the drought.
	The World Food Programme will next week launch a regional appeal for food for Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland. They estimate that four million tons of cereal imports will be needed. 2.8 million to be provided by private sector and government imports, and 1.2 million tons through food aid will be distributed free.

Famine (Africa)

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much food aid her Department has earmarked for the World Food Programme to be distributed in southern Africa from the year beginning September 2002.

Clare Short: We have allocated £18.75 million in response to the World Food Programme regional appeal for six countries in southern Africa for immediate food purchases. This is part of an overall allocation of £45 million through international organisations and NGOs for food and inputs for the next planting season. We will review our commitment as the relief programme proceeds.

Famine (Africa)

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to tackle food shortages in southern Africa.

Clare Short: I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury on 17 June 2002, Official Report, columns 58–59W.

Famine (Africa)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on famine in southern Africa.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury on 17 June 2002, Official Report, columns 58–59W.

Debt Relief

James Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how her Department is working with the EU to reduce delays in delivering debt relief due under the HIPC initiative to poor countries.

Clare Short: In 1999, the UK helped to secure, through the European Union, a pledge of 1 billion euros towards debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), from the European Development Fund (EDF). This was to be provided in the form of 680 million euros for the HIPC trust fund and 320 million euros in debt relief for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries' debts owed to the European Investment Bank (EIB). To date 650 million euros have been spent, with a further 300 million euros planned for disbursement this year.

Debt Relief

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how her Department will ensure that poor countries which do not qualify for the opportunity of HIPC debt relief achieve sustainable debt funding.

Clare Short: Countries that are not eligible for debt relief under the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative can still achieve sustainable debt levels through the traditional debt relief mechanisms available. This includes a stock-of-debt operation under Naples terms (up to 67 per cent. cancellation of debt) by the Paris Club and comparable treatment by non-Paris Club official bilateral and commercial creditors. To qualify for HIPC relief, a country must be judged to have an unsustainable debt after the full application of traditional debt relief measures, and to have met the other HIPC requirements. It is therefore possible for countries, as in the case of the Comoros, the Gambia and Malawi, to be added to the list of HIPC countries, depending on their circumstances.

Debt Relief

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made on debt relief for poor countries; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Richard Burden) on 21 June 2002, Official Report, column 583W.

Debt Relief

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how her Department is working with the European Union to reduce delays in delivering debt relief due under the HIPC Initiative to poor countries.

Clare Short: In 1999, the UK helped to secure, through the European Union, a pledge of 1 billion euros towards debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), from the European development fund (EDF). This was to be provided in the form of 680 million euros for the HIPC trust fund and 320 million euros in debt relief for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries' debts owed to the European Investment bank (EIB). To date 650 million euros have been spent, with a further 300 million euros planned for disbursement this year.

Palestinian Authority

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure that development funding for the Palestinian Authority is not used to support terrorism.

Clare Short: Our bilateral development programme in the west bank and Gaza Strip is largely technical assistance, funded through, and managed by, a range of local and international organisations on behalf of Palestinian beneficiaries. Commissioner Patten has stressed that the Commission has investigated Israeli claims about European Commission (EC) support and found no evidence to corroborate the allegations that EC funds have been misused to finance terrorist activities; or for anything other than their original purpose. The EC attach strict conditionality to the budgetary assistance provided to the Palestinian Authority (PA). The conditions mainly reinforce the need for transparency of the PA's public finances, strengthening the prudent management of the budget, and encouraging progress on overall financial and administrative reform. We are satisfied that the EC, with the assistance of the IMF, is ensuring the conditions are met.

Pharmaceutical Provision

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to improve pharmaceutical provision in the developing world.

Clare Short: The Government are committed to addressing the four key factors which are recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as affecting the provision of pharmaceuticals in the developing world. These are sustainable financing, affordable pricing, reliable health and supply systems and the rational selection and use of existing drugs.
	On sustainable financing, we have pledged $200 million over five years to the Global fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria. The fund will support increased coverage of proven interventions for these diseases by providing developing countries with resources to purchase key commodities, and strengthen systems to procure and deliver them.
	The Working Group on Access to Medicines, which I chair, is working with the pharmaceutical industry and foundations, developing countries, the World Health Organisation, the World Trade Organisation and the European Commission to bring about more affordable pricing. The Group will report to the Prime Minister after its final meeting in July.
	We have committed over £1 billion since 1997 to strengthening developing countries' health systems, building their capacity both to deliver medicines to the poor and to make effective choices about the selection and use of drugs.

Zimbabwe

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether UK development assistance to Zimbabwe is administered by Zimbabwe Government authorities.

Clare Short: UK development assistance is delivered through international, non-Government and parastatal organisations. Some commodities provided through our HIV/AIDS and emergency medical supplies programmes are distributed through public health service outlets. The bulk of our assistance is for food aid which is delivered outside Government channels.

Sustainable Development Summit

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what she aims to achieve at the world summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg in respect of reduction of poverty.

Clare Short: The UK's strategic objective is to make globalisation work for sustainable development, especially for the poorest. At the summit, the UK would like to build on other processes, including the Doha Development Agenda and Financing for Development conference in Monterrey, to focus the efforts of Governments, international institutions, business and civil society on delivering the sustainable development necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The summit is a critical opportunity to bring the development and environment movements together in a systematic attempt to both reduce poverty and pursue sustainable development. I also refer my right hon. Friend to the speech I gave on the summit in London on 20 June, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

UN Aid Target

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress she has made since June 2001 towards meeting the UN target for percentage of gross domestic product devoted to international aid.

Clare Short: In 2001, UK official development assistance was 0.32 per cent. of gross national income (GNI)—up from 0.26 per cent. in 1997. The Government are committed to the target of raising development assistance to 0.7 per cent. of national income, and will significantly raise the amount of our development assistance and its share in national income, in the next spending round. This will be announced soon, and will cover the years up to 2005–06.
	The UK played a major role in securing the commitment by the European Union at the Financing for Development conference in Monterrey to raise its average official development assistance as a share of national income to 0.39 per cent. (from 0.32 per cent.) by 2006. This will mean an extra $7 billion of official development assistance per year from Europe.

EU Development Assistance

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her role in achieving a sharper poverty focus in EU development assistance.

Clare Short: DFID has worked hard since 1997 to improve the overall effectiveness of EC development assistance in contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by improving its poverty focus and quality. There have been some steps in response to our efforts to reform EC development assistance. We are pressing the EC to pursue its reform efforts vigorously in order to implement the November 2000 EC Development Policy, which for the first time makes poverty reduction the central objective of EC development programmes. We are also working for agreement that a much greater share of EC aid should be allocated to low income countries where it will have the greatest impact on poverty reduction. In 2000, only 38 per cent. of EC aid was spent in low-income countries compared to 70 per cent. in 1990. Last year we secured a substantial increase in the external actions budget for Asia. This year we hope to see the budget share for Asia maintained and further increased where possible.

Great Lakes

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what Britain's contribution is towards the UN OCHA appeal for aid across the Great Lakes region.

Clare Short: DFlD's contribution to the 2002 OCHA appeals for the Great Lakes are as follows:
	
		£ 
		
			  Contribution 
		
		
			 OCHA Emergency Humanitarian Initiative 500,000 
			 OCHA Coordination 400,000 
			 Office for the High Commission of Human Rights 250,000 
			 UN Security 400,000 
			 UN OCHA Emergency Humanitarian Initiative(1) 500,000 
		
	
	(1) Part of the United Nations Flash Appeal for the Goma eruption.

Former Yugoslavia

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to increase aid to former Yugoslavia for reconstruction.

Clare Short: From 1991 to 2000, the UK's total contribution to the former Yugoslavia, comprising our share of EC funding and bilateral aid, including humanitarian aid, was £972 million.
	EC aid committed to the states of the former Yugoslavia through the CARDS and other programmes between 2000 and 2006 is £3.19 billion, of which the UK share, which is funded from DFlD's budget, is £600 million. In addition, we are providing support to economic and social reform through our bilateral programmes, through which we are providing £16.1 million this year. We also contribute to the other multilateral agencies assisting the states of the former Yugoslavia, including the World bank and EBRD.
	We do not propose to increase these commitments.

Tanzania

Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects a response from the Civil Aviation Authority in respect of its assessment of Tanzania's military air traffic control system.

Clare Short: The International Civil Aviation Organisation has produced a report looking at the Government of Tanzania's (GoT) civil air navigation requirements. This is now being considered by the GoT and we are awaiting their response.

Afghanistan

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussion she has had with the Ministry of Defence about co-ordinating activities in supporting nation building in Afghanistan.

Clare Short: A reformed security sector is vital to the future stability of Afghanistan.
	My Department, in consultation with both the Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is contributing to the creation of accountable national military and police forces subject to the rule of law and under central and civilian control; anti-narcotics activities; and the re-establishment of an appropriate judicial system. The UK has in principle committed £22 million to this process for this financial year. My Department has worked closely with British forces serving in the International Security Assistance Force on the identification and implementation of quick impact projects in Kabul and its environs. These projects contribute to stability, thus allowing political processes and development activities to take root.

Health Services

Piara S Khabra: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her support for basic health services for poor people.

Clare Short: My Department is engaged in efforts to strengthen developing countries' health systems to deliver effective services for poor people and to address the priority health problems of the poor. Since 1997, the Government have committed over £1 billion to health systems strengthening. The UK has also committed $200 million over five years to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, which will help pay for increased coverage of proven interventions for these diseases and some associated health systems strengthening to ensure drugs and commodities are delivered safely, effectively and equitably.

Millennium Development Goals (Africa)

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her assessment is of the challenges faced by Africa in reaching the millennium development goals.

Clare Short: Unlike the rest of the world, on present trends Africa will not meet the MDGs and halve poverty by 2015:
	economic growth needs to be more than twice as high, at 7 per cent., to meet the income poverty target.
	20 per cent. of Africans are affected by conflict costing the continent 2 per cent. a year of growth on average.
	maternal mortality has got worse, not better, over the last decade. over 25 million Africans are living with HIV/AIDS (70 per cent. of the global total).
	as a result, life expectancy has fallen by up to 20 years in some countries.
	If this continues, it will be a tragedy for Africa's people and a threat to the future safety and stability of the world.
	But this fate is not inevitable. Africa faces an enormous challenge in meeting the MDGs. But that challenge is not insurmountable. First, it requires that African nations commit to fundamental reform and a process of learning from one another. Second, it needs the developed world to alter the nature of its partnership with Africa, not just by increasing and improving aid but by tackling the whole range of policy constraints which affect Africa's development. NEPAD and the G8 can play a critical role in both.

Science and Technology

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure information arising from scientific breakthroughs in (a) medicine, (b) agriculture and (c) other technologies, are shared for the benefit of the developing world; and if he will make a statement.

Clare Short: DFID places great importance on improving the access to research results to poor people who could benefit. DFID ensures that appropriate dissemination strategies are an essential and integral component of all research activities we support. We also recognise the need to facilitate interaction between researchers, policy makers and other users of research, not just in respect of research funded by DFID.
	DFID uses a range of mechanisms for knowledge sharing. These include all the usual mechanisms—books, journal and newspaper articles, conference proceedings and technical bulletins, leaflets and manuals, posters, videos, training and exposure through workshops and research partnerships. DFID will continue to support these and innovative mechanisms for knowledge sharing, including the use of information and communication technologies. Current information and communication technologies initiatives include health communications, distance education, empowerment and conflict reduction, science for development, a policy research institute network in conjunction with the World bank and a website which disseminates highlighted summaries of research that can help reduce poverty.
	Research outputs are promoted through packaging them into policies, strategies or technologies relevant to the needs of the poor. Promotion is usually managed in collaboration with target institutions, often locally based. Working with local agencies helps to foster long-term relationships for the successful transfer and adoption of research outputs that can help poor communities to prosper.
	A review of DFID's dissemination practices is currently under way and will feed into future work.

Parliamentary Questions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will place in the Library a copy of the departmental guidance for officials on answering parliamentary questions.

Clare Short: I will place a copy of the guide, which was written by officials for officials, in the Library of the House.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Redundant Churches (Greater London)

Tom Cox: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how many churches in the Greater London area have been made redundant in each of the last five years.

Stuart Bell: A total of 15 Greater London churches have been declared redundant in the last five years, broken down as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1997 4 
			 1998 5 
			 1999 2 
			 2000 2 
			 2001 2 
		
	
	In eight of these cases, a new church or place of worship was provided.

TRANSPORT

New Roads and Street Works Act

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2001, from the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Official Report, column 1228W, on road works, what assessment has been made of the pilot schemes in the London borough of Camden and in Middlesbrough; how many daily charges have been made; what assessment has been made of the disruption to road users; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2001, from the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Official Report, column 1227W, on the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, if he will place the interim report in the Library; if the further report has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Consultants—Halcrow—were appointed by the Government last year to measure the effectiveness of the powers under section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 by which highway authorities are able to impose charges on utility companies, where the latter dig up the highway and these works are not completed by an agreed deadline. These powers were activated on 1 April 2001.
	An interim monitoring report, covering the first few months of the new powers was produced by Halcrow in March. I am arranging for copies of this to be placed in the Libraries of the House. However, a full report, covering the first 12 months of the operation of the scheme, is due to be delivered to my Department shortly.
	Pilot schemes to test further powers under which local authorities can charge utility companies "lane rental", whenever the latter dig up highways to install or maintain their apparatus, began on 4 March 2002 in Camden and Middlesbrough. We do not yet have reliable data on the effect of the pilots. However, the Government also appointed Halcrow to measure the impact of lane rental, both in terms of the effect on the disruption caused by utility works and the costs which it imposes on those utilities. Halcrow are due to deliver their first report to my Department, covering the first few months of the scheme, later this year.

New Roads and Street Works Act

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities by 31 March, had (a) shown intent to fine and (b) fined utility companies under the powers given in section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: To date 112 local authorities have notified my Department that they are using or intend to use the section 74 powers to charge utility companies. We understand that all, or nearly all, of those have already imposed charges for overstaying.

Nuclear Material (Rail Accidents)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the recent accident involving a train carrying nuclear material; and if he will make a statement on the performance of the emergency services in response.

David Jamieson: The recent incident at Brookland crossing in Kent on 11 June involved a train carrying an empty nuclear fuel flask destined for Dungeness nuclear power station. The collision is estimated to have occurred at less than 5 mph. There was no damage to the flask, and minor damage to the front of the locomotive and the heavy goods vehicle, which it struck. Emergency services and specialist support from the nearby nuclear power station attended and information suggests that the response was adequate to deal with this incident.
	The UK is currently undergoing an audit, at our request, by the International Atomic Energy Agency under the auspices of its Transport Safety Appraisal Service (TranSAS). The audit team is formed from expert participants and observers from several countries and international bodies. The audit is intended to examine the regulatory and enforcement infrastructure in the United Kingdom related to the transport of radioactive material. This incident occurred while the TranSAS audit team were examining emergency response arrangements. The team visited Dungeness nuclear power station on 18 June and investigated the effectiveness of the response to the incident. The final report of the TranSAS mission is due later this year and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Silverstone Bypass

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the (a) circumstances, (b) sum involved and (c) purpose of the expenditure for which a direction was sought, relating to when an accounting officer sought direction from the Minister for Transport, Local Government and the Regions before authorising expenditure relating to the Silverstone bypass.

David Jamieson: The Silverstone Bypass was due to open in time for this year's Formula 1 British Grand Prix but progress was severely delayed due to last year's foot and mouth outbreak and exceptionally wet autumn.
	In previous years there have been serious problems with access to the Silverstone Circuit with resulting traffic congestion. The FIA, motorsport's governing body, had threatened to remove the British Grand Prix from future Formula 1 seasons and a major factor behind their agreeing to retain the British Grand Prix was the commitment by the Government that the access difficulties would not arise this year.
	Authority was sought to pay for different working methods to recover lost time and to guarantee a temporary use of part of the bypass for the Grand Prix to be held this July. This was done in recognition of the wider national interest in ensuring the security of the British Grand Prix for future years.
	The cost of accelerating the works is £8.064 million. This covers the cost of additional dry materials suitable for winter working; out of hours working at quarries, bituminous material production sites and the associated additional cost of transporting those materials; additional earthworks to remove the saturated material and provide accelerated drainage, and additional contractor's costs.

Tram and Light Rail Schemes

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) published on the respective costs and benefits of tram and light rail schemes compared to schemes to promote greater bus use.

David Jamieson: My Department has commissioned a number of research projects which have looked at the impacts of particular light rail and bus schemes, but have not sought to compare alternatives. There are many published studies which seek to compare the respective cost and benefits of the two modes. These include 'Bus or light rail: making the right choice' (Environmental and Transport Planning, 2000), for which my Department was among the funders.

Tram and Light Rail Schemes

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average public subsidy per journey is for (a) tram and light rail schemes, (b) bus routes and (c) underground railway schemes.

David Jamieson: Relevant statistics are published in "Transport Statistics Bulletin", from which the following are extracts:
	Local bus services, Great Britain, 2000–01
	A. Concessionary fare reimbursement—£468 million
	B. Fuel duty rebate—£362 million
	C. Total subsidy (A+B)—£830 million
	D. Number of passenger journeys—4,309 million
	E. Subsidy per passenger journey (C/A)—£0.19.
	In addition, public transport support of £386 million was paid by local authorities mainly to support local bus services which were socially necessary but were not commercially viable. This includes Rural Bus Subsidy grant, Rural Bus Challenge, payments to operators, professional and technical services, and Pension Increase Act costs.
	For tram and light rail schemes and Glasgow Underground, the only public subsidy is concessionary fare reimbursement, the figures for which cannot be disaggregated from those for ferries. The combined figures for this expenditure are in Table 21 of "Transport Statistics Bulletin".
	For London Underground, concessionary fare reimbursement was £26 million in 2000–01, and passenger journeys 970 million, giving a figure per journey of 3p.

Transport Strategies

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what measures he is taking to ensure that integrated transport systems receive high priority from local planners;
	(2)  what measures he is taking to ensure that local people are fully involved in consultation processes when transport strategies are being drawn up by a local authority.

John Spellar: Our guidance to local authorities on local transport plans (LTPs) and LTP annual progress reports (APRs) makes clear the importance of public participation not only in the development of the strategies and measures proposed within the plan but also on-going consultation during implementation. Evidence of participation is considered as part of the assessment of LTPs and APRs in determining the annual local transport capital settlement for authorities.
	We have also made clear in our guidance the need to demonstrate consistency between an authority's local transport plan and its local development plan. Guidance issued to local authorities on planning policies further emphasises the role of land use planning in delivering our integrated transport strategy. It is for the local authority to determine its local priorities but we have, as part of the planning Green Paper published last December, put forward proposals to improve the planning processes.

Traffic Reduction Targets

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued to steering groups and local authorities on how road traffic reduction targets should be considered in multi-modal studies.

David Jamieson: My Department issued guidance in April 2002 on the way in which multi-modal studies should assess the contribution of strategies to the eight public service agreements set out in the 10-year plan for transport, published in July 2000, including the target
	"to reduce road congestion on the inter-urban network and in large urban areas in England below current levels by 2010". The guidance is a supplement to the DETR publication "Guidance on Methodology for Multi Modal Studies", dated March 2000. These documents can be found on the Department's website at www.dft.gov.uk.

Green Ministers

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who the designated Green Minister is for his Department.

David Jamieson: I am the Green Minister.

Rail Regulator

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the Office of the Rail Regulator.

David Jamieson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport made a statement on 12 June 2002, Official Report, column 1261W.

Network Rail

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will be represented on the board of Network Rail.

David Jamieson: No.

National Air Traffic Services

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rates of interest apply to the short-term loan made available to NATS by the Government.

David Jamieson: This matter is commercially confidential.

West Coast Main Line

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the role of (a) Bechtel and (b) other contractors on the West Coast Main Line.

David Jamieson: Railtrack plc announced on 13 February that they had appointed Bechtel to lead a strengthened delivery team for the West Coast route modernisation. Railtrack employ a wide range of other companies in connection with the project.

Railway Crime

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the railway industry with regard to railway crime; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Regular discussions are held with the railways industry on a variety of matters that effect the operation and safety of the railway, including the prevention of crime. For example, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport launched a scheme on Monday 24 June involving Connex Trains who are sponsoring their staff to become Special Constables with the British Transport police by giving them time off work for their police duties and an annual bonus payment.

Train Operating Companies

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reward payments have been given to each train operating company in each year since 1994; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The annual reports of the Strategic Rail Authority and its predecessors (the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority and Office of Passenger Rail Franchising—OPRAF) contain tables showing, for each franchise, the amounts paid and received as basic (non-incentive) payments and incentive regime payments. These documents are in the Libraries of the House.

Train Operating Companies

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in re-franchising in respect of each train operating company; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Rail Industry

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) representations he has received and (b) discussions he has had with (i) the SRA, (ii) the Rail Regulator, (iii) ATOC and (iv) the rail industry with regard to the conditions of carriage; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: None.

Roundabout, Hunter's Cross

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the Highways Agency study into the construction of a roundabout at the junction of the A35 and the B3165 at Hunter's Cross, Raymond's Hill, Devon.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency has commissioned a study to consider the options for improving the junction between the A35 trunk road and the B3165 at Raymond's Hill near Axminster in Devon. A number of options are being investigated, including the provision of a roundabout. I will ask the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member with details of the study's conclusions when they have completed their investigations. This is expected to be in the autumn.

Disabled Parking Scheme

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 73W, on disability vehicle stickers, how many local authorities collect data on the number of charges and convictions for misuse of disabled persons' parking cards;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 73W, on disability vehicle stickers, why records on the number of charges and convictions for the misuse of disabled persons' parking cards are not kept centrally; and how trends in the misuse of disabled persons' parking cards are recorded.

David Jamieson: There is no legal requirement for local authorities to hold such records and the Department does not currently ask for that information as part of its annual blue badge statistical survey of local authorities in England. The devolved Administrations are responsible for the scheme in other parts of the UK.
	The issues of misuse and abuse of badges are being considered as part of the review of the scheme which is currently under way.

Disabled Parking Scheme

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what action he is taking to prevent able- bodied drivers using disabled parking spaces;
	(2)  what powers (a) the police and (b) local authorities have to deal with the abuse of disabled parking bays by able-bodied drivers.

David Jamieson: The Blue Badge scheme only applies to on-street parking. There is a wide variety of powers to tackle abuse available to local authorities, who are responsible for administering the Blue Badge scheme. It is an offence under section 47 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to park a vehicle which is not displaying a badge in a designated disabled person's parking bay.
	Off-street car parks are private property and charges and conditions of use are a contractual matter between the owner and the motorist. In these car parks, spaces marked for badge holders only are in most cases not legally enforceable, but depend on the courtesy and consideration of other drivers. Car park operators could ask a non- disabled driver to move their car from a space set aside for disabled people but they might not be in a position to insist upon it.
	The Department has, however, given its full support to the 'Baywatch' campaign run by a coalition of disability organisations (including the Disabled Drivers Association and the Disabled Drivers' Motor Club). They are committed to encouraging greater protection of disabled persons' parking bays in retail car parks from abuse by non-disabled drivers.
	The issues of abuse and misuse of badges are a key part of the major review of the Blue Badge scheme that we are currently undertaking.
	In the meantime, it is open to anybody to bring instances of fraudulent use to the attention of the police, traffic wardens, the appropriate local authority or car park operators and we will continue to work with these bodies and stakeholder groups to minimise the potential for abuse and misuse.

Eye Tests

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the DVLA research project into visual field eye tests will be completed; and when the results of the study will be published.

David Jamieson: Two complementary research studies are in progress.
	One study uses subjects with peripheral visual field defects and assesses their performance in a range of tasks that may be relevant to driving impairment. The report on this study is likely to be available in mid 2003.
	The other study is similarly examining the effect of visual field loss in the central area of the field. The report of this study is likely to be available towards the end of 2003.

Station Accessibility

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what additional funds the Strategic Rail Authority plans to make available to (a) train operating companies and (b) Connex South East to upgrade stations to conform with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995;
	(2)  when the Strategic Rail Authority will have completed its review of train operators' disabled people's protection policy to identify where station facilities need to be improved.

David Jamieson: Although it is the responsibility of the station facility operators to ensure that their stations meet the requirement of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, the Strategic Rail Authority has said in its strategic plan that it will make available additional funding to ensure train operating companies are resourced, where necessary, to implement the requirements of the DDA on access to stations. Until the review of the Disabled People's Protection Policy for each train operator has been completed—the SRA expects by the end of this year—the full scope of the work required will not be known and priorities will then have to be applied to implementation.

Manchester-Waterloo Rail Link

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed direct rail link from Manchester to Waterloo.

David Jamieson: The train operator Wales and Borders currently provides one direct service between Manchester Piccadilly and London Waterloo via Leominster, but there is no requirement under the terms of the franchise for any such service.

Home Working

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to encourage employees to work from home; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Working at or from home is one option for working flexibly which is available to staff in my Department. At present over 350 staff currently have remote access to out IT systems to enable them to work from home or on the move.

South London Metro

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals the Government have to develop a south London Metro.

David Jamieson: holding answer 25 June 2002
	Implementation of the Strategic Rail Authority's plan will deliver increased frequency of suburban services and substantial investment in stations. Many stations in south London already receive high frequency services but more will be done to improve journeys and make better use of the established network in south London. Improvements will be delivered via franchise replacement, major projects such as the East London Line extension, and specific programmes for station improvements. The SRA is considering fares integration in London as part of its wider review of fares policy. It is also working with stakeholders to develop improved journey information and branding.

Pelican Crossing (Chelmsford)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to revise the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994; when his Department will give approval for the operation of the pelican crossing in Chelmer Village Way, Chelmsford; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: We expect to introduce revised and updated Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions in the autumn. My officials received an application on 6 June to authorise signals for a Toucan (pedestrian and cycle crossing) in Chelmer Village Way and the authorisation was issued on 20 June.

Thames River Crossing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what cost estimate his Department made of a new Thames river crossing from Cliffe Marshes in Kent to Canvey Island.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no proposals with detailed cost estimates at this time for a new Thames crossing between Cliffe Marshes and Canvey Island that my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is considering.

Thames River Crossing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to consult local hon. Members, local councils and Essex county council on the possibility of a new Thames river crossing.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	Consultation with local hon. Members and local councils, including Essex county council, is currently taking place in relation to the Government's London Orbital multi modal study (Orbit). Consultants published a provisional strategy for Orbit on 11 June 2002. This includes recommendations for further work on a lower Thames crossing. Details of the provisional strategy are included in an Orbit newsletter sent out to 3,000 key stakeholders in June. The content of the provisional strategy has not been formally considered by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister or his officials at this time.

Thames River Crossing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings, and on what dates, his Department (a) has had and (b) are planned with the Thames Gateway South Essex on a possible new Thames crossing; and what the agenda for these meetings was.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department has not had any meetings with the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership about this specific issue. Furthermore no such meetings are planned at this time.

Thames River Crossing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Thames Gateway South Essex on possible new Thames river crossings.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	No discussions about this specific issue have taken place with the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership.

Thames River Crossing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what options he has discussed for a new Thames river crossing to the east of the existing crossing at Dartford.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no proposals at this time for a new Thames river crossing east of the existing crossing at Dartford that my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is considering.

Electoral Arrangements

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much public expenditure was incurred in organising the 2001 general election in (a) the UK, (b) Greater London and (c) Enfield; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The funds made available to acting returning officers to conduct the 2001 general election were as follows:
	(a) England and Wales27 million;
	(b) Greater London5 million; and
	(c) Enfield153,000.
	These figures represent advances made; when final accounts are submitted and paid they are expected to rise. In addition in England and Wales, around 18 million was paid for the delivery of candidates' election material and for electoral equipment. No further breakdown of this figure is available in the form requested. The responsibility for funding parliamentary elections in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Broadband

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of benefits of access to broadband services for SMEs; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government have conducted studies of the benefits of ICT and e-commerce to business and SME's. Other organisations have conducted studies which suggest that broadband has a range of benefits, with the potential to bring about productivity improvement e.g. lower transaction costs when communicating with customers and suppliers.

Broadband

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what comparative research she has commissioned on the delivery of broadband in (a) other European countries and (b) the US.

Stephen Timms: UK Online: the broadband future published in February 2001 sets out our research activities. The UK also has bilateral contacts with countries in the EU and around the world, and has a memorandum of understanding on co-operation with the US Federal Trade Commission. This allows us to benchmark progress more qualitatively.
	We are also keeping in close touch with analysis of developments in broadband markets being carried out by the OECD.

Broadband

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with business leaders regarding broadband; and what was the result of those discussions.

Stephen Timms: I have recently met with a number of business leaders, including representatives of several mobile telecommunications firms, BT, Cable companies and Tesco.com. I hope to meet shortly with several other major players, both from within and outside the telecoms sector. I have also met Keith Todd, the chairman of the Broadband Stakeholder Group, to hear the views and comments of the 250 members of the Stakeholder Group.
	The Government have worked closely with business and other stakeholders to develop and take forward the UK broadband strategy and will continue to do so. Latest developments in this strategy can be found at www.e-envoy.gov.uk, and my speeches and press notices on broadband can be found at www.dti.gov.uk

Broadband

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on the target set in February 2001 to make the UK the most competitive and extensive broadband market in the G7 by 2005.

Stephen Timms: The UK Online annual report of December 2001 stated that the UK had the fifth most extensive market and the fourth most competitive market in the G7.
	Since then the market has continued to develop, with prices falling, coverage increasing and take-up accelerating. Around 66 per cent. of the population are now able to access one or more of ADSL, cable or wireless technologies, with nearly 40 per cent. having a choice.
	BT has now enabled 1,115 exchanges to deliver broadband services, and has given customers the ability to register their interest with a promise to make broadband available when the level reaches a specified figure. This allow more than 40 resellers of BT's wholesale ADSL to offer broadband to customers.
	The Government have set out a comprehensive programme of action, including a 30 million fund to help the regional development agencies develop innovative schemes to extend broadband networks, as well as measures to tackle competition, supply, demand and content.
	We will shortly be announcing the next steps for public sector procurement, with a view to maximising the buying power of the public sector and ensuring that broadband is bought in a cost-effective, joined-up manner.

Freepost Services

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she will make a statement about the Consignia freepost service for services for the blind;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the continuation of the Freepost service to the blind.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Friend to the answer given on 28 February 2002, Official Report, column 1560W.

Prize Draws

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information her Department has collated regarding unsolicited prize draws sent from foreign addresses.

Melanie Johnson: The Department have received a large amount of correspondence from the public about unsolicited prize draws, many of which originate from overseas, making it difficult for consumers to identify the source of mailings.
	The Office of Fair Trading currently have over thirty cases of mailings from overseas under investigation. In response, the OFT is gathering intelligence on each deceptive mailing in order to trace the originators and to actively pursue those responsible.

Prize Draws

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with relevant authorities in other countries regarding unsolicited prize draws sent by mail to addresses in this country.

Melanie Johnson: The Department works closely with enforcement bodies, such as the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), who work with their European and other international counterparts on unsolicited mailings.
	The OFT has the status of a Community qualified entity, which enables it to bring proceedings under the Injunctions directive (98/27/EC), in other European Community member states in order to protect UK consumer interests.
	The OFT raised the issue of misleading mailings at the most recent European meeting of the International Marketing Supervision Network (IMSN), with a view to co-ordinating Europe-wide action against such mailings. The OFT has also held discussions on misleading mailings with north American law enforcement agencies, including Industry Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Affairs, the Ontario provincial police and the US federal trade commission.
	The ASA supervises the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion and works with national and international regulators. Where misleading mailings may have originated outside of the UK, the ASA liaises with regulatory bodies in the EU via the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA).

Post Offices (Fraud)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices were temporarily closed because of suspected fraud within their premises in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom in each year since 1995.

Stephen Timms: These are matters which fall within the operational responsibilities of Post Office Limited and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Military Exports

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences for military supplies to (a) India and (b) Pakistan have been granted which are still being used by supplying companies.

Nigel Griffiths: Because the granting of an export licence does not necessarily translate into an actual export, it would entail disproportionate cost to contact all exporters with current licences to India and Pakistan to establish which, if any, are still being used by supplying companies.

Small Business Service

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) small and (b) medium size companies have contacted the Small Business Service since 2000; and if she will make a statement on future operational activity of the SBS.

Nigel Griffiths: The Small Business Service (SBS) was set up in April 2000. It works through 45 local Business Links to deliver business support services to SMEs. Small businesses are able to access these services via a number of channelsby calling the Business Link National Enquiry Line on 0845 600 9006; by logging on to the www.businesslink.org website; or by directly contacting their local Business Link. These channels became operational in April 2001.
	Although we do not hold comprehensive information on the size of the companies that have contacted us, statistics for the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002, are as follows:
	Number of SMEs that were provided with information or advice by their local Business Link244,685
	Number of calls to the Business Link National Enquiry Line68,053
	Number of e-mail inquiries generated via www.businesslink.org4,989.
	Prior to April 2001 comprehensive contact statistics were not recorded.
	In addition, from April 2000 until the end of May 2002 the SBS National Enquiry Line (0114 259 7788) has dealt with over 11,860 inquiries.
	SBS future operational activity
	The SBS Business Plan for 200203 will be available on the website www.sbs.gov.uk in July. This sets out the operational priorities.

Engineering

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to make engineering more attractive as a career to students.

Alan Johnson: The Department supports a number of activities that are intended to encourage the young to appreciate the benefits of careers within the engineering sector. The individual programmes are as follows:
	Through SETNET, the Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths Network, DTI supports the 53 SETPoints across the UK with delivery into schools of activities intended to enhance the curricula. Each SETPoint is in the second year of a three-year Business Plan through which they will ensure that every child under 16 has the opportunity at least once in each Key Stage, or the equivalent, to participate in an appropriate activity. This is bolstered by our support for the Science Engineering Ambassadors (SEAs) programme, which encourages people working in STEM based careers to pass on their experiences to those in school.
	The Department is also supporting the Engineering Technology Board one of whose core aims is to reverse the downward trend of people, including students, with appropriate qualifications and skills taking up Engineering and Technology based careers.
	In addition, there are a number of smaller programmes, which the Government support. These include:
	The WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) Programme which aims to encourage more women to enter these fields;
	Work being done by Forum for the Future to link engineering sector with sustainable development;
	Part of our grant in aid to the Royal Academy of Engineering is used to support a range of educational programmes, collectively known as BEST;
	The Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC) funds a large schools programme, which is aimed, in part, to future engineers;
	The Copus grant scheme aims to make engineering more attractive as a career to students funded by the Office of Science and Technology and the Royal Society; and
	A number of programmes aimed at encouraging engineering in specific sectors.
	Total funding is approximately 10,500,000 per annum.

Arms Sales (Israel)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on export controls on UK companies selling arms to Israel.

Nigel Griffiths: Companies exporting arms and other items controlled for strategic reasons from the UK to Israel require an export licence from the Department of Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) on 15 April 2002, Official Report, columns 72223W.

Office for Civil Nuclear Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent appointments have been made from her Office for Civil Nuclear Security to advisory bodies of the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Brian Wilson: The Deputy Director of the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) has been appointed to the IAEA's Advisory Group on Nuclear Security which held its first meeting in February this year. Advisory group members are appointed by the Director General and are recruited in their own capacity as recognised experts in the field of nuclear security.

Office for Civil Nuclear Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on paragraph 4 of the report of the Director of Civil Nuclear Security, covering the period October 2000 to March 2002.

Brian Wilson: The Director of Civil Nuclear Security, the security regulator for the UK civil nuclear industry, stated in paragraph 4 of his first annual report on the State of Security in the Civil Nuclear Industry and the Effectiveness of Security Regulation that it is essential that stringent security precautions are taken by the civil nuclear industry in view of the consequences that the misappropriation of nuclear material or a successful sabotage attack on a nuclear facility might have. It is not our policy to disclose details of security measures taken at civil nuclear sites. I am satisfied by the assurances the director has given me about the security measures in place which are kept under continuing review.

Civil Nuclear Industry

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the development of design basis threat planning documents for the civil nuclear industry.

Brian Wilson: I cannot add to the information about the key planning document known as the design basis threat (DBT) which the Director of the Civil Nuclear Security referred to in his recent annual report on the State of Security in the Civil Nuclear Industry and the Effectiveness of Security Regulation, placed in the Libraries of the House on 11 June 2002. The assessment is classified and no further details can be published. The Director of Civil Nuclear Security assures himself that a site operator's ability to protect against the DBT is adequate and is tested.

Wave Power

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to establish a publicly owned wave power production company.

Brian Wilson: None. The Government's renewable energy programme includes 5 million to support demonstration and testing of wave and tidal technology projects.

Terrorist Threats

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Office for Civil Nuclear Security contacted the United States and Japanese regulatory authorities in respect of the security arrangements to deal with the potential terrorist threats to plutonium mox fuel in transit by sea.

Brian Wilson: Regarding the MOX fuel that was exported to Japan in 1999 to be returned to the UK, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security maintains regular contact with the Japanese Government and regulatory authorities, most recently in January this year to consult on security arrangements for the return shipment. They have not been in direct contact with authorities in the United States in this context; any business with the US Government is normally carried out through the embassy in Washington.

Staff Transfers

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will extend the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment of Local Government etc.) (Modification) Order 1999 to cover staff transferred from a local authority to a private contractor undertaking a contract longer than five years.

Alan Johnson: Employing bodies who wish to be included on future amendments to the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc.) (Modification) Order 1999 should write to the Department's Employment Relations Directorate, giving full particulars of their organisation and its functions. All such requests are considered in the context of the employing bodies' connection with or involvement in the public sector.

Copyright

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what representations she has received in the last 12 months asking that trading standards officers should take responsibility for enforcing copyright offences; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans she has to introduce section 107A of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The industry umbrella group, the Alliance Against Counterfeiting and Piracy, has lobbied for section 107A of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be brought into force. The specific investigatory tools to enforce the copyright offences that would be given to trading standards officers by section 107A would be in addition to the ones they have under related trade marks and trade descriptions laws. The delay in bringing section 107A into force arises from concerns about possible resource implications that we are seeking to resolve.

Energy Policy

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to explain to UK electricity consumers the proportion of their energy costs due to the Renewables Obligation.

Brian Wilson: In the statutory consultation on the Renewables Obligation, published in August 2001, it was estimated that its introduction would result in a maximum increase in average electricity prices of just under 5 per cent. by 2010 in comparison with 1999 prices. Actual costs arising from the Obligation will depend on what suppliers actually pay for any additional renewable energy supplies or for Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs).
	In a competitive electricity market, it is for individual electricity suppliers to determine the price of the electricity which they provide to consumers. In determining those prices, suppliers will have to take account of a wide range of influencing factors, including any arising from the Renewables Obligation.
	The buy-out mechanism operates to ensure that any extra costs arising from the Obligation do not reach an unacceptable level. Recycling of buy-out receipts will provide an incentive to further investment in renewablesthus helping suppliers to work towards reducing overall costs.

NETA

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the workings of NETA during its first complete year.

Brian Wilson: Ofgem, the gas and electricity regulator, is currently preparing a report on the operation of NETA in its first year. This is due to be published in July 2002.

Selby Coal Mine

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the report prepared for the Department on the economic and geological prospects of the Selby coal mine complex.

Brian Wilson: It is my intention to publish this report after we have received the final version.

Press Office

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) full-time equivalents were employed by her press office and (b) secondees were placed in the press office in the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The number of press officers was as follows:
	
		
			 As at 1 January Press officers 
		
		
			 1998 17 
			 1999 24 
			 2000 25 
			 2001 23 
			 2002 23 
		
	
	There have been a number of short-term loans to the press office from other Government Departments and agencies, but none over this period from the private sector or non-Government bodies. We do not keep records of the number of loans from Government bodies to the press office.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Scientific and Technical Committee for the Community Fund for Tobacco Research and Information is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The Scientific and Technical Committee for the Community Fund for Tobacco Research and Information is a scientific committee set up to assist the European Commission in the management of the Community Tobacco Fund. The Community Tobacco Fund finances action in the areas of improving public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco consumption and identifying specific measures to help tobacco growers switch to other crops or other economic activities.
	The Scientific and Technical Committee for the Community Fund for Tobacco Research and Information is not attended by officials of Her Majesty's Government and does not give rise to costs to UK public funds.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General which inspectorates have been involved in the thematic inspections undertaken by the HMCPSI; and what the title was of each thematic inspection.

Harriet Harman: HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has participated in six joint inspectorate thematic inspections since April 1999. The names of the other inspectorates and titles of each inspection are as follows:
	How Long Youth Cases Take. A joint inspection by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, HM Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (published May 1999).
	Casework Information Needs within the Criminal Justice System. A joint review by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, HM Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, HM Inspectorate of Prisons, HM Inspectorate of Probation and the Social Services Inspectorate (published April 2000).
	The Implementation of section 1 of the Magistrates' Courts (Procedure) Act 1998. A joint inspection by HM Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (published November 2000).
	Report on the Joint Inspection of the Progress made in Reducing Delay in the Youth Justice System. A joint inspection by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, HM Magistrates' Courts Service and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (published February 2001).
	Report on the Joint Inspection into the Investigation and Prosecution of Cases Involving Allegations of Rape. A joint inspection by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (published April 2002).
	Report on the Joint follow-up Inspection of the Progress made in Reducing Delay in the Youth Justice System. A joint inspection by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, HM Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (published May 2002).
	A joint inspection of Discharged Committals in the West Midlands Area has just been completed by a team of inspectors drawn from HMCPSI, HMIC and HMMCSI. This is the first joint inspection of any part of the work of the same CPS, Police and Magistrates' Court Service area. The report is expected to be published in July 2002.
	In addition, work is continuing on two other thematic reviews. One is a review into Listing Procedures in the magistrates and Crown courts in conjunction with HMIC and HMMCSI and the other is a review, entitled Joint Inter-Agency inspection of Safeguards for Children, examining the protection afforded to children by the relevant agencies. This latter is being undertaken by HMCPSI and seven other inspectorates:
	(i) Social Services Inspectorate
	(ii) HM Inspectorate of Education and Schools (Ofsted)
	(iii) Commission for Health Improvement (CHI)
	(iv) HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC)
	(v) HM Inspectorate of the National Probation Service for England and Wales
	(vi) HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMI Prisons)
	(vii) Her Majesty's Magistrates' Court Service Inspectorate (HMMCSI).

Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what criteria the HMCPSI uses to determine the quality of CPS casework.

Harriet Harman: HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate assesses the quality of CPS casework by a careful evaluation of how the CPS performs its four key functions: the provision of pre-charge advice to the police; reviewing cases following the commencement of proceedings; preparing cases for court; and presenting cases in court.
	Inspectors focus on a number of main themes under each of these functions. Under pre-charge advice and case review, inspectors assess whether the law, the tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors, and charging standards agreed between the CPS and police nationally are all being correctly interpreted and applied; and whether all actions and decisions regarding cases are being taken at the right time. Inspectors pay particular attention to special categories of cases, including those involving racist incidents, child abuse and domestic violence cases.
	The evaluation of case preparation is more process based. Inspectors consider how the CPS discharges its duties of disclosure, the timeliness of its source of material upon the defence and the court, how the CPS prepares cases for trial, file management and endorsements, and the effectiveness of specific processes such as the monitoring of custody time limits.
	In relation to case presentation, inspectors assess whether prosecuting advocates have the appropriate skills to present cases fairly, thoroughly and firmly and to test defence cases rigorously, and whether they exercise these skills to enable courts to reach just decisions.

Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what action has been taken by the HMCPSI to ensure that scrutiny is consistent across the areas to provide objective assessment and comparisons between areas.

Harriet Harman: HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate ensures that scrutiny is consistent across all areas by applying the same methodology in all its area inspections, but with a balanced approach that takes into account different practices and characteristics between the areas. Therefore, inspectors always examine key aspects of an area's performance, such as the application of the tests contained in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the area's compliance with the duties of disclosure of unused material and the standard of advocacy. These findings are always published in a table of performance measures in the report, and compared with performance data of other CPS areas inspected to date. Key issues peculiar to the area are highlighted and discussed elsewhere in the report.
	Assessing the quality of legal decision-making is difficult as decisions frequently turn on legal or evidential issues that are essentially matters of professional judgment. Inspectors therefore assess whether a decision or an action by a prosecutor was one which was properly open to a reasonable prosecutor having regard to the principles set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and other relevant guidance. The application of this objective test means that inspectors do not disagree with a decision unless it is wrong in principle, and not merely because an individual inspector may have come to a different conclusion.
	The Inspectorate is not a large organisation, and guidance has been formulated, and training opportunities used, to help develop a uniformity of approach. Each inspection team consists of several inspectors. They will have worked on different areas and with different colleagues. This allows the exchange of ideas and opinions before conclusions are drawn, and so the risk of different standards being applied are minimised. Finally, the scrutiny given to the draft report by the relevant Group Director and the Chief Inspector, together with discussions about the emerging findings and the draft report with senior area managers, help to ensure a consistent approach and the fair and objective assessment of the performance of each area.

Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the reports which have been produced by HMCPSI since the inception of the service for the DPP and the Law Officers.

Harriet Harman: HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has carried out a total of 86 CPS branch and area inspections since 1997. A list appears at the conclusion of this answer.
	47 branch reports and one report on a complete area (London) were published between 1997 and 1999 when the Crown Prosecution Service comprised 13 large areas with over 90 branches.
	In April 1999 the CPS was reorganised into 42 areas and restructured in accordance with the recommendations of the Review of the CPS (the Glidewell report). Since that time, 37 area inspection reports have been published. The inspections of the remaining five areas are currently at different stages of completion and all reports should be published by September 2002.
	HMCPS Inspectorate has also published nine thematic reports and has participated in six joint inspections.
	The Chief Inspector for the time being of HMCPSI has, in addition, published four annual reports. Three were on a non-statutory basis. The inspectorate, which had previously been part of the CPS itself, was placed on an independent statutory basis on 11 October 2000 when the Crown Prosecution Service Act 2000 came into effect. The first statutory annual report was laid before Parliament on 2 May 2002.
	
		Branch reports (August-July 1999)
		
			 Branch office Date Number 
		
		
			 Dorset August 1997 1/97 
			 Exeter August 1997 2/97 
			 Leeds, North September 1997 3/97 
			 West Kent September 1997 4/97 
			 Liverpool, South October 1997 5/97 
			 Derbyshire October 1998 6/97 
			 Cambridgeshire November 1997 7/97 
			 Gloucestershire November 1997 8/97 
			 Teeside November 1997 9/97 
			 London (area report) December 1997  
			 Norfolk January 1998 1/98 
			 Humberside January 1998 2/98 
			 Leicestershire January 1998 3/98 
			 Warwickshire February 1998 4/98 
			 Wiltshire February 1998 5/98 
			 Hertfordshire March 1998 6/98 
			 Surrey March 1998 7/98 
			 Lincolnshire March 1998 8/98 
			 Bedfordshire April 1998 9/98 
			 North Yorkshire April 1998 10/98 
			 Gwent May 1998 11/98 
			 Northants May 1998 12/98 
			 West Mercia June 1998 13/98 
			 Durham June 1998 14/98 
			 Suffolk June 1998 15/98 
			 Cumbria July 1998 16/98 
			 Chester July 1998 17/98 
			 Brent, Harrow and Uxbridge August 1998 18/98 
			 Bolton and Wigan August 1998 19/98 
			 North Staffordshire September 1998 20/98 
			 Highbury September 1998 21/98 
			 North-Wales October 1998 22/98 
			 Portsmouth October 1998 23/98 
			 Camberwell November 1998 24/98 
			 Stockport/Sale November 1998 25/98 
			 Wearside November 1998 26/98 
			 Marylebone/West London December 1998 27/98 
			 Coventry January 1999 01/99 
			 Humberside January 1999 02/99 
			 Enfield/Waltham Forest January 1999 03/99 
			 Fylde February 1999 04/99 
			 South Glamorgan February 1999 05/99 
			 London Youth Branch March 1999 06/99 
			 Bristol March 1999 07/99 
			 Barking April 1999 08/99 
			 Manchester, South May 1999 09/99 
			 Birmingham 1 May 1999 10/99 
			 Central Casework July 1999 11/99 
			
			 Area reports   
			 Area office   
			 Dorset May 2000 01/00 
			 Merseyside May 2000 02/00 
			 Gloucestershire July 2000 03/00 
			 West Mercia July 2000 04/00 
			 Northumbria September 2000 05/00 
			 Derbyshire September 2000 06/00 
			 Essex September 2000 07/00 
			 Nottinghamshire September 2000 08/00 
			 Cambridgeshire November 2000 09/00 
			 Durham November 2000 10/00 
			 Lancashire November 2000 11/00 
			 South Wales January 2001 01/01 
			 Suffolk January 2001 02/01 
			 South Yorkshire February 2001 03/01 
			 Cheshire February 2001 04/01 
			 Kent February 2001 05/01 
			 West Midlands March 2001 06/01 
			 Hampshire IoW March 2001 07/01 
			 Northamptonshire March 2001 08/01 
			 Cleveland April 2001 09/01 
			 Norfolk April 2001 10/01 
			 Gwent May 2001 11/01 
			 Lincolnshire June 2001 12/01 
			 Gloucestershire (re-insp) June 2001 13/01 
			 West Yorkshire July 2001 14/01 
			 Humberside September 2001 15/01 
			 Staffordshire September 2001 16/01 
			 Warwickshire November 2001 17/01 
			 North Yorkshire November 2001 18/01 
			 London December 2001 19/01 
			 Bedfordshire January 2002 01/02 
			 Thames Valley January 2002 02/02 
			 Dyfed Powys March 2002 03/02 
			 North Wales March 2002 04/02 
			 Greater Manchester March 2002 05/02 
			 Leicestershire April 2002 06/02 
			 Cumbria April 2002 07/02 
			 Hertfordshire May 2002 08/02 
			
			 Thematic reports   
			 Cases involving Child Witnesses January 1998 01/98 
			 Cases involving Domestic Violence May 1998 02/98 
			 Advice Cases September 1998 03/98 
			 Adverse Cases June 1999 01/99 
			 Evaluation of Lay Review and Lay Presentation August 1999 02/99 
			 Advocacy and Case Presentation February 2000 01/00 
			 Disclosure of Unused Material March 2000 02/00 
			 Performance Indicator Compliance and Case Outcomes July 2000 03/00 
			 Casework with a Minority Ethnic Dimension May 2002 01/02 
		
	
	
		Joint Inspections
		
			 Subject Date 
		
		
			 How Long Youth Cases take (with HMIC and HMMCSI) May 1999 
			 Casework Information Needs within the CJS (with HMIC, HMMCSI, HMI Prisons, HMI Probation, SSI) April 2000 
			 Implementation of Section 1 of the Magistrates' Courts (Procedure) Act 1998 (this was an HMMCSI report assisted by HMCPSI and HMIC) November 2000 
			 Progress Made in Reducing Delay in the Youth Justice System (with HMIC and HMMCSI) February 2001 
			 Cases Involving an Allegation of Rape (with HMIC) April 2002 
			 Joint Follow-up Inspection of the Progress Made in Reducing Delay in the Youth Justice System (with HMIC and HMMCSI) May 2002 
		
	
	HMCPSI annual reports
	199798
	199899
	19992000
	200001.

Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the use of lay inspectors within HMCPSI inspections; and if she will list the nominating bodies.

Harriet Harman: HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has used one or more lay inspectors in each area inspection undertaken (save for one in which the lay inspector was unable to attend through illness). Lay inspectors observe and assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service through a process of observation, inspection and evaluation, primarily in relation to the service's dealings with the public and its ability to assess and interpret the public interest in its decision-making under the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
	Lay inspectors help to:
	assess the extent to which the CPS undertakes the care and treatment of victims and witnesses;
	assess the extent to which prosecutors comply with the Code for Crown Prosecutors specifically in relation to the application of the public interest test;
	assess the effectiveness of the relationship between the CPS and the local community; and
	assess the effectiveness of the CPS in dealing with complaints.
	Lay inspectors bring the broad perspective of an informed member of the public to the CPS inspection process. They contribute to the inspection of CPS areas and assist in formulating recommendations to improve performance where necessary. While lay inspectors are governed by strict rules of confidentiality in relation to individual cases, they play an important part in helping to promote people's awareness of the work undertaken by both the CPS itself and the Inspectorate.
	Most lay inspectors have been nominated by:
	the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders;
	the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux; and
	Victim Support.
	Some have been nominated by diverse local groups, such as:
	local Racial Equality Councils;
	the Terence Higgins Trust; or
	established local community groups.
	In practice, lay inspectors will observe trials in both the magistrates courts and the Crown court and speak to prosecution witnesses when they have finished giving evidence; consider a number of complaints made to the CPS area; consider some files which have been the subject of contentious or borderline decisions, either to proceed or to discontinue the case, under the public interest test in Code for Crown Prosecutors; and, if possible, to join in some interviews both with CPS staff and local representatives of other organisations. Wherever possible, lay inspectors join in the evaluation of the performance of the area, contribute a short report on their observations and findings, and comment upon the draft report.
	The Law Officers who held office at the time the first cycle of area inspections was commenced and encouraged the use of lay inspectors and I support the continuation and development of their role.

Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General which HMCPSI inspections have reviewed discontinuance rates in magistrates' courts since 1999.

Harriet Harman: Every HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate Report contains the comments of inspectors on the discontinuance rate in the area inspected. The discontinuance rate is a comparative calculation of case outcomes in the magistrates courts collected by each CPS area.
	The Inspectorate publishes in its area reports its assessment of whether decisions to discontinue cases examined during the inspection comply with the Code and compares this with the assessments made in all the areas inspected in the current cycle to date. Inspectors examine the timeliness of the decisions to discontinue, and analyse the reasons for discontinuance of cases and assess the quality of decision-making in a sample of cases, that is whether these decisions are taken in accordance with the law, the Code for Crown Prosecutors, and other relevant guidance.

Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on (a) the number of women and numbers of minority-ethnic groups working at SCS level within the HMCPSI and (b) the number of men working in an administrative or secretarial capacity with HMCPSI.

Harriet Harman: On 24 June 2002 there were no women or members of a minority ethnic group at SCS level within HMCPSI.
	HMCPSI employs one male at administrative assistant grade and four males at administrative officer grade. There are four secretaries (including one agency staff), all of whom are female.

Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what changes in inspection methodology have been undertaken by HMCPSI following publication of the report entitled Review on Evaluation of HMCPSI Programme and Methodology 2001.

Harriet Harman: Changes in inspection methodology following publication of the Report, Review and Evaluation of HMCPSI programme and methodology (2001) include:
	a small reduction in the numbers of files requested from CPS areas for examination;
	streamlining of file examination to focus on key aspects of decision-making and case management;
	adjustment of the inspection timetable to allow extra time for evaluation and report writing;
	a more consultative approach with areas, in particular over the draft report;
	an increased use of questionnaires for external consultees;
	the development of a report template to help consistency, concision, and presentation of information.
	In the medium-longer term, the Inspectorate currently has working groups examining its methodology in relation to both casework and management and operational issues with a view to developing more focused and flexible arrangements for the next inspection cycle. These will have greater emphasis on the business excellence model principles, greater use of risk management, and the encouragement of self- review and performance measurement within the CPS itself.

Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on, and explain the variation in, the annual budget allocated to staff training in each CPS area, with specific reference to (a) Warwickshire and (b) Northamptonshire, in 200102.

Harriet Harman: CPS areas allocate elements of their administration budgets to fund training courses on the basis of locally determined factors and priorities. The sums allocated, which were set out in my reply to the hon. Member on 6 March 2002, exclude the opportunity cost of backfilling front-line staff when attending courses, and also associated travel and subsistence costs. They also exclude the costs of national training initiatives funded centrally from within the CPS HQ allocation or from the allocations to the service's 10 service centres.
	CPS Warwickshire, being the smallest area in the country, is proportionately resourced and elected to set its training budget to reflect only the costs of external courses and fees for admission to conferences. Other expenditure on training was subsumed within its allocation of administration costs. Apparent variations can be misleading and it is significant that in a recent inspection, HM Chief Inspector commended the area on its approach and delivery of training.
	CPS Northampton has focused resources on leadership training building on its recent Investors in People accreditation and as part of its application to the Business Excellence Model, particularly to assist in its establishment of a co-located Criminal Justice Unit with the Northamptonshire police. The area's budget is also distorted by an additional allocation that the area bid for separately to undertake a specific project designed to improve advocacy skills. In the event, the project was deferred because the coincidence of its timing with other national training initiatives would have adversely affected operations. The area subsequently reduced its allocation to training accordingly.
	Significant funding was set aside centrally for the delivery of a number of national training initiatives over the period which included legislative and procedural training on the implementation of the Human Rights Act; diversity and equality issues; advocacy training for higher court advocates and designated caseworkers; and, more recently, computer literacy training to complement the rollout of the CPS connect 42 infrastructure. Both Warwickshire and Northamptonshire benefited from this training. This funding, amounting to 1.34 million in 19992000; 1.53 million in 200001; and 3.70 million in 200102, cannot be directly associated with each of the 42 CPS area budgets.

DEFENCE

Atomic Weapons Establishments

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the status of proposals to close AWE Burghfield;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library the documents pertaining to proposals to close AWE Burghfield.

Lewis Moonie: AWE plc, which manages AWE on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, has conducted a feasibility study into whether it would be cost-effective to undertake all operations at a single site. However, this is simply a feasibility studyno decision has been made and no proposals exist to move to a single site, consequently there is no documentation pertaining to the closure of AWE Burghfield.

Air Tankers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the remaining life expectancy is of the existing air-to-air refuelling tankers.

Lewis Moonie: The existing Royal Air Force refuelling fleet is made up of two aircraft types comprising 19 VC10s and six TriStars. On current plans, all the VC10s are due to go out of service by the end of this decade with the TriStars leaving service shortly afterwards. Precise dates can be amended as necessary to ensure a smooth transition to the new air-to-air refuelling capability to be provided by the future strategic tanker aircraft when it enters service.

Air Tankers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hercules C-130Js are capable of air-to-air refuelling.

Lewis Moonie: Each of the Hercules C-130Js can be refuelled in the air as and when necessary.

Air Tankers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many air-to-air refuelling operations occurred in each of the last 12 months.

Lewis Moonie: The table shows the number of air-to-air refuelling sorties that have occurred in each of the last 12 months since June 2001. These figures exclude 456 sorties where no fuel was transferred, including sorties carried out for training purposes.
	
		Air-to-air refuelling sorties
		
			 Month/year Number 
		
		
			 2001  
			 June 198 
			 July 179 
			 August 269 
			 September 165 
			 October 264 
			 November 252 
			 December 198 
			   
			 2002  
			 January 200 
			 February 177 
			 March 132 
			 April 162 
			 May 152

Air Tankers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the A340 air tanker project will have a helicopter refuelling capability.

Lewis Moonie: I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the future strategic tanker aircraft project for which the potential aircraft solutions are the Airbus A330 and the Boeing 767. The future strategic aircraft will provide air-to-air refuelling capability in support of our fast jet and large aircraft fleets. It will not be a suitable platform from which to undertake helicopter refuelling.

Air Tankers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected cost of the A340 air tanker project is.

Lewis Moonie: I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the future strategic tanker aircraft project for which the potential aircraft solutions are the Airbus A330 and the Boeing 767. We are evaluating the potential for the future strategic tanker aircraft capability to be provided via a PFI service based contract. Under such an arrangement costs will depend upon usage of the service. Based on our expected usage over the anticipated 27-year duration of the contract, we currently estimate the whole life cost of the capability to be around 13 billion at outturn prices.

Air Tankers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Treasury about the A340 Air Tanker project.

Lewis Moonie: I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft project for which the potential aircraft solutions are the Airbus A330 and the Boeing 767. Officials of the Ministry of Defence regularly discuss the project with their counterparts in the Treasury as a matter of routine. Ministers of the two Departments have not recently discussed the project.

Air Tankers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when he will have completed negotiations with the bidders for the A340 Air Tanker project; when he will announce the preferred bidder for the project; when production of the A340 Air Tanker project will commence; and when it will be fully operational;
	(2)  what savings he expects from the 12-month delay to the Air Tanker project;
	(3)  for what reason the A340 Air Tanker project is to be delayed.

Lewis Moonie: I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft project for which the potential aircraft solutions are the Airbus A330 and the Boeing 767. This prospective PFI project is currently in a competitive assessment phase and two consortia have submitted bids for the contract. I announced to the House on 17 June 2002 that commercial discussions with industry are taking longer than anticipated to complete. It is not yet possible to confirm when we will be in a position to announce the preferred contractor and move to financial close on the contract. We are working closely with industry to ensure that sound decisions are taken as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we have delayed the planned introduction of the PFI service until 2008. This will allow further time for these complex negotiations to be completed. The service is expected to be fully operational by 2012. We do not expect to achieve any overall cost saving as a result of the delay.

Shoeburyness

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many compensation payments were made for damage caused by range activities at Shoeburyness in each of the last 20 years.

Lewis Moonie: The following compensation payments were made in each of the years in question.
	
		
			  Number of payments 
		
		
			 1982 9 
			 1983 6 
			 1984 19 
			 1985 17 
			 1986 12 
			 1987 18 
			 1988 17 
			 1989 15 
			 1990 17 
			 1991 8 
			 1992 16 
			 1993 17 
			 1994 77 
			 1995 34 
			 1996 54 
			 1997 24 
			 1998 46 
			 1999 55 
			 2000 36 
			 2001 36

QinetiQ

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect the change in ownership of QinetiQ will have on the number of ranges and range activities; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: These matters are among a number of subjects currently under discussion between the Ministry of Defence and QinetiQ. We will announce the outcome at the earliest opportunity.

Health Spending

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for increased spending on health provision in the armed forces.

Lewis Moonie: As a consequence of the Strategic Defence Review, an additional 140 million over four years was invested in the Defence Medical Services. We will be considering the conclusions of the recent Medical Quinquennial Review in our next planning round, which I announced in a written answer on 11 April 2002, Official Report, column 558W to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Wright).

Oil and Pipelines Agency

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Quinquennial Review of the Oil and Pipelines Agency will take place.

Adam Ingram: The Quinquennial Review of the Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA) has started. The aim of the review is to examine how the OPA has performed against the Managing Agency Agreement instituted between the Ministry of Defence and the OPA, and to recommend whether there is any potential to improve the cost-effectiveness of its service to its customers.
	The review will proceed in two phases. In the first phase a number of 'framework' issues will be examined, including whether its present position as a non- departmental public body (NDPB) is the most appropriate arrangement for delivery of the required services. It will also examine whether existing Government arrangements require adjustment. The report of this first phase of the review is expected in August 2002.
	In the second phase, the review will address, in the light of the answers to the 'framework' issues examined in the first phase, a number of questions concerning the operational efficiency of the OPA, including the scope for Strategic Partnership and further streamlining of business processes both within the OPA and between the OPA and the Ministry of Defence. The report of the second phase of the review is expected in September 2002.
	The review will be carried out by a small team, which will consult closely with the OPA management and other stakeholders, including the OPA's customers. The Ministry of Defence is interested also to hear the views of other organisations or individuals who would like to make a contribution to the review. Those wishing to do so should send their contributions to the OPA QQR Team, Room 24, DFG HQ, West Moors, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 6QS.

Astute Class Submarines

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the Astute class submarines will be based.

Adam Ingram: Both the first and second batches of Astute class submarines will be at based HM Naval Base Clyde. The first batch is already on order and a decision on the procurement of the second batch of up to three further Astute class submarines is expected later this year.

Medical Treatment

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average (a) in-patient waiting time and (b) out-patient waiting time was for armed forces personnel in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002 treated in (A) the NHS and (B) the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 7 May 2002
	Service patients in the United Kingdom are mainly treated in Defence Secondary Care Agency (DSCA) administered Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) situated in NHS trusts. The DSCA measures treatment waiting times for service personnel at the MDHUs against its Outpatient and Inpatient Key Targets. Details of the Agency's Outpatient and Inpatient Key Targets for 200001 and 200102 and the Agency's performance against these are given in the tables:
	
		Table 1200001
		
			 Key target Outcome 
		
		
			 Out-patients  
			 45 per cent. of service patients to be offered a first out-patient appointment within four weeks of receipt of a referral and 85 per cent. within 13 weeks 34 per cent. within four weeks and 89 per cent. within 13 weeks 
			   
			 In-patients  
			 75 per cent. of service patients to be offered a treatment date which is within 13 weeks of the decision to give in-patient treatment 68 per cent 
		
	
	
		Table 2200102
		
			 Key target Outcome 
		
		
			 Out-patients  
			 45 per cent. of service patients to be offered a first out-patient appointment within four weeks of receipt of a referral and 90 per cent. within 13 weeks 33 per cent. within four weeks and 68 per cent. within 13 weeks 
			   
			 In-patients  
			 80 per cent. of service patients to be offered a treatment date which is within 13 weeks of the decision to give in-patient treatment 73 per cent. 
		
	
	Table 1 covers referrals to MDHUs Derriford, Frimley Park, Northallerton and Peterborough and to the Royal Surrey County Hospital (for oral and maxillofacial surgery only). Table 2 also includes referrals to MDHU Portsmouth, which was created on 1 April 2001.
	Service personnel can opt to be treated in other NHS hospitals and are referred to these where there is a need for specialised care not available in the Defence Medical Services (DMS) or for geographical reasons. This patient activity is subsumed in overall NHS waiting lists.
	The DMS do not maintain a central record of treatment waiting times for the service personnel that they refer to the independent health care sector. Such referrals are made under a variety of schemes managed by either the DSCA or the single services.

Armoured Personnel Vehicles

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to consider the replacement of armoured personnel vehicles in use by the UK armed forces.

Lewis Moonie: Planning for a replacement armoured personnel carrying capability includes the Future Rapid Effect System, the Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle and the Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle. We continue to review existing armour personnel vehicle programmes to ensure that they remain coherent with evolving United Kingdom strategic requirements.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Ministerial Salaries

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual cost was of ministerial salaries in her Department in (a) 199798 and (b) 200102.

Stephen Twigg: The level of ministerial salaries are recommended by the Senior Salaries Review Body. From May 1997, in this Department's predecessor, the Department for Education and Employment, there was one Cabinet Minister, at an annual salary of 43,991; three Ministers of State, two in the Commons paid at an annual salary of 31,125, and one in the Lords paid at an annual salary of 51,838; and three Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of States, at an annual salary of 23,623. From June 2001, there was one Cabinet Minister, at an annual salary of 68,157; two Ministers of State, at an annual salary of 35,356; and three Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State, two in the Commons paid at an annual salary of 26,835 and one in the Lords paid at an annual salary of 60,961.

Staff Training

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Department has spent on staff training and development in each of the last five years.

Stephen Twigg: The Department for Education and Skills is responsible for encouraging and supporting learning and development throughout the UK. It has set itself the objective of becoming an exemplar learning organisation. To this end it has established leading edge e-learning facilities and continues to develop this and other learning solutions for its staff.
	As currently constituted, the Department is barely one year old, following a Machinery of Government change. The figures for 199798 to 19992000 below relate to the Department for Education and Employment. Figures for 200001 and 200102 have been adjusted to reflect the Department's current responsibilities.
	As a percentage of all staff costs the figures are:
	
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 199798 1.5 
			 199899 1.5 
			 19992000 2.0 
			 200001 (2)1.8 
			 200102 (2)2.6 
		
	
	Estimated
	These figures represent the more formal aspects of learning and development. They do not, for example, capture such areas as coaching by line managers, interchange, secondment, mentoring and self-managed learning.

School Exclusions

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils living in (a) a residential care home and (b) with foster parents were (i) in special schools and (ii) excluded from school in the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by (A) Government office region and (B) LEA.

Stephen Twigg: The information is not currently collected centrally in the form requested. Information collected by the Department of Health shows that 1.5 per cent. of children who had been looked after continuously for at least 12 months at 30 September 2000 had received a permanent exclusion during the 19992000 school year.
	From January 2003, the Annual Schools Census will identify children who are or have been in care, though the type of care will not be recorded.

School Exclusions

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many fixed-term exclusions from schools in England there were in (a) 1990, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001.

David Miliband: The information requested is not available centrally.
	Fixed term exclusions have been collected for the first time this year on a trial basis. A more regular collection is being considered.

Training Organisations

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost has been of national training organisations in each year since coming into existence.

Ivan Lewis: The first NTO recognitions were in 1997. NTO recognition was withdrawn as of 31 March 2002. The totality of payments recorded for each financial year since April 1997 made by the Department in respect of work contracted to NTOs is as follows:
	
		
			million 
		
		
			 199798 4.158 
			 199899 8.136 
			 19992000 15.008 
			 200001 13.214 
			 200102 11.948

Bullying

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations she has received to make it a statutory obligation for schools to allow pupil participation when (a) drawing up and (b) reviewing the school's anti-bullying strategy.

Stephen Twigg: Bullying is a serious problem which can put the emotional well-being and educational achievement of young people at risk. From September 1999 head teachers of maintained schools have been under a duty to draw up measures to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils; these need to be reviewed regularly.
	We have not received recent representations to make it a statutory obligation to allow pupil participation when drawing up or reviewing a school's anti-bullying policy. We recommend such participation, although it is for schools to decide whether this is appropriate particularly if they have very young pupils. In our pack for schools Bullying: don't suffer in silence we mention that schools which involve pupils have found their suggestions practical and sensitive to the school's ethos.
	We are currently funding new research by ChildLine to obtain young people's views on schools' anti-bullying policies as part of a project on what works in combating the problem. The results should be available early next year.

Independent Television Commission

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if members of the Independent Television Commission are appointed on a regional basis.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	Members of the Independent Television Commission are appointed in accordance with the provisions of the 1990 Broadcasting Act. Schedule 1 to that Act provides that three of the members of the Commission, other than the chairman and deputy chairman, shall be persons who appear to the Secretary of State to be suited to make the interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively, their special care.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Pets

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce licensing for (a) cats and (b) dogs that breed.

Elliot Morley: Under the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 as amended by the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 anyone who is in the business of breeding and selling dogs will require a licence from the local authority. There are no plans to extend this legislation to cats.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA was created on 7 June 2001, and since then up to 31 March 2002, our special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity, including accompanying the Secretary of State on nine occasions, at an average cost of 1,788 per trip. The countries visited were Belgium x 2, France, Luxembourg, Morocco, USA, Poland, India and South Africa.
	All travel by special advisers is undertaken fully in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

Special Advisers

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when and where she advertised the positions for special adviser in her Department.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 24 June 2002
	The Government's position on advertising special adviser posts remains as set out in the Government's response to the report of the Public Administration Select Committee on special advisers published in December 2001.

Computers

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many computers were replaced in her Department in each of the past three years; how the replaced units were disposed of and by which companies; and at what cost.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA, created on 8 June 2001, has recently completed the roll out to all staff of a replacement office system started for the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1999. During this roll out, the following numbers of desktop computers were replaced for staff in the core Department.
	
		
			 June MAFF DEFRA 
		
		
			 19992000 119  
			 200001 1,650  
			 200102  2,878 
		
	
	Where appropriate, existing computers have been re-used elsewhere in the Department, including to enable flexible working arrangements for staff, but surplus redundant equipment has been disposed of as follows:
	In 19992000, the Ministry had a considerable backlog of 1,265 computers for disposal and arranged for ICL (now Fujitsu) to carry out a one-off exercise to clear this before the roll out of the new office system, at a cost of 46,000 plus VAT.
	In 200001, 1,172 and in 200102 3,361 computers were disposed of by Northern Realisations Limited, Bolton, Lancashire at no cost to the Department, but a gain to the Exchequer of 35,000. The contractual arrangement provides for units to be sold on at auction, passed to schools or charities or scrapped according to the terms of all the relevant legislation and regulations.

Banned Pesticides/Plant Treatments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure that traces of (a) pesticides and (b) other plant treatments which are banned in the United Kingdom are not found on fresh imported produce.

Elliot Morley: There are a large number of substances which are not approved as pesticides in the UK but may be used in other countries. Differences in approvals between countries can arise because different approval conditions are applied or because commercial approvals are not sought in all countries. The fact that a compound is not approved in the UK does not mean that residues of that compound in imported produce are unsafe.
	The Government conduct a wide-ranging annual surveillance programme for pesticide residues in food including imported food. Some 4,000 samples are analysed annually and the programme generates results for over 100,000 pesticide/commodity food combinations. All the results are published on a website: www.pesticides.gov.uk/ committees/PRC/prc.htm.
	The surveillance programme includes monitoring for some of the compounds among the 21 banned throughout the EU.

Departmental Expenditure Limit

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 200203 will be accounted for by staff costs; what the figures were for 200102; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Reliable figures for 200203 are not yet available as staff costs and total expenditure are dependent on the outcome of pay negotiations, which are currently under way.
	For 200102 the pay bill cost is estimated as 495 million which represents 18 per cent. of the departmental expenditure limit.

National Scrapie Plan

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when she intends to bring forward legislation to place the national scrapie plan on a statutory basis;
	(2)  by what date she intends to make compliance with the national scrapie plan compulsory.

Elliot Morley: In addition to provisions relating to foot and mouth disease, the Animal Health Bill provides for enabling powers to make for the genotyping of sheep compulsory. This would accelerate the development of a national flock which is resistant to TSEs. These powers would provide a legal-enabling basis for making it compulsory to comply with, and participate in, the national scrapie plan. As part of the original consultation it was made clear that these measures would be compulsory at some stage. We will continue to discuss timescales with the sheep industry and we are progressing with the scheme on a voluntary basis.
	A motion was passed in another place on 26 March 2002 that postpones further consideration on the Animal Health Bill in its entirety until the Government have published their response to the consultation on implementation of powers in the Bill, and published the findings of the Royal Society inquiry into foot and mouth disease and the National Audit Office value for money evaluation. These two studies are due to report this summer.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Welfare is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Welfare (SCAHAW) is an advisory committee established under Council Decision 97/579/EC of 28 August 1997.
	The committee has six scheduled plenary meetings a year. In addition there are also six scheduled sub- committee meetings dealing with animal health and animal welfare. The 16 members of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Welfare do not represent their countries; rather they attend as individual experts.
	The committee has no legislative function; it provides authoritative scientific advice to the Commission. This advice is published.
	The members' travel expenses and travel costs are reimbursed by the European Commission.
	The sub-committee on animal health deals with scientific and technical questions concerning all aspects of animal health, hygiene, animal diseases and therapies, including zones of non-food origin and zootechnics. The sub-committee on animal welfare deals with scientific and technical questions concerning the protection of animals, notably in regard to animal husbandry, herd management, transport, slaughter and experimentation.
	Information relating to the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Welfare can be found on the following websites: http://europa.eu.int//comm/food/fs/sc; http://europa.eu.int//comm/food/fs/sc/scah/indexen.html

Committee Mandates

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the EU Implementation Committee for Spirit Drinks is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; when it is next due to meet; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Spirit Drinks Implementation Committee (SDIC) is mandated by council regulation 1576/89 and is responsible for the implementation of the general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks as laid down in that regulation. It considers draft Commission legislation and gives its formal opinion on Commission proposals.
	SDIC has met twice during the last 12 months. It is next due to meet on 17 July 2002. One DEFRA official is expected to attend the meeting.
	UK representation varies according to the agenda for each meeting and may include members of the Scottish Executive (and other devolved administrations) where there are items of sufficient interest. Members of the Scottish Executive did not attend the two SDIC meetings held over the past 12 months.

Committee Mandates

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the EU Committee on Geographical Indications and Protected Designations of Origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; when it is next due to meet; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Regulatory Committee on geographical indications and protected designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs has met three times over the last 12 months. The date and time of the next meeting is unknown at this stage. Its mandate is laid down in Article 15 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2081/92. Its activities include helping the Commission to decide on the registration of protected food names and to draw up Commission regulations relating to the operation of the scheme.
	UK representation varies according to the agenda for each meeting and may include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations where there are items of sufficient interest. If Scottish Executive colleagues do not attend, they work closely with DEFRA officials to ensure that Scottish interests are fully taken into account.

Committee Mandates

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the EU Joint Meetings of Management and Regulatory Committees in the field of agriculture is; how many times such meetings have taken place over the last 12 months; when it is next due to meet; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: There are many management and regulatory committees in the field of agriculture whose mandates stem from individual pieces of Council legislation relevant to those sectors. Details of the past and next meetings of these committees and any involvement of the Scottish Executive could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

Committee Mandates

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandates of (a) the EU Committee on conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; when it is next due to meet; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The purpose of the Committee on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture is to advise the Commission on draft measures made under Council Regulation 1467/94 on:
	(a) assisting the co-ordination, at Community level, of certain national measures for the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture to permit the rational organisation of the means employed within the Community and the efficient utilisation of the results and to achieve an approach in line with the aims of the Common Agricultural Policy.
	(b) the development and implementation of programmes of measures for the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture at Community level to support or supplement action taken in the member states; and
	(c) other relevant questions.
	Regulation 1467/94 established a programme for the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture for a period of five years. The Commission has made proposals for a successor regulation, which is currently under consideration.
	The Committee has met once in the last 12 months. It was attended by officials from my Department. No decision has been made regarding the date of any future meeting. UK representation varies according to the agenda for each meeting and may include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations where they consider that there are items of sufficient interest.

Committee Mandates

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandates of (a) the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund Committee and (b) the working party on irregularities are; how many times they have met over the last 12 months; when they are next due to meet; what the UK representation on them is; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive (i) have been and (ii) are members of them; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund Committee was set up under Council Regulation 17/64 EEC on the conditions for granting aid from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Provisions which currently define the role of the Committee, confer powers on the Commission and establish rules for consultation and adoption of legislation are contained in Articles 11 to 15 of Council Regulation 1258/99 on the financing of the common agricultural policy.
	The Committee has both voting and non-voting functions. The procedures for adoption of legislation by the Committee are set out in Article 13 of Regulation 1258/99. This is a management committee procedure (variant IIa). The voting procedure is applied to regulations made under Articles 4 and 5 of Regulation 1258/99 (essentially concerned with accreditation of paying agencies and submission of annual CAP accounts). In addition, a number of other regulations require the EAGGF Committee to express an opinion via Article 13 procedures, in particular on measures adopted under the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS), some horizontal regulations, eg on calculating the costs of financing intervention measures, and certain commodity regime provisions which involve the grant of aid from EAGGF funds (in the latter case the sectoral management committee normally sit as a joint management committee with the EAGGF Committee).
	The EAGGF Committee may also be consulted in circumstances set down in Article 14 of Regulation 1258/99. This provides for the Fund Committee to be consulted:
	in cases where provision is made for it to be consulted;
	for the assessment of the Fund's credits to be entered in the Commission's estimate for the coming financial year and, if necessary, on additional estimates;
	on draft proposals from the Commission to the Council concerning the application of Regulation 1258/99 and on draft reports on the Fund to be submitted to the Council.
	The Committee may also examine any other question referred to it by its chairman either on its own initiative or at the request of a representative of a member state. It should be informed regularly of the activities of the Fund. Consultation is required by Article 6 of the Regulation (essentially concerning payment of monthly advances from the Fund and decisions on clearance of annual CAP accounts). Consultation does not involve a vote.
	The Committee has met 13 times over the past 12 months. The next meeting is on 18 July. The UK representation on the Committee is led by DEFRA, and the UK Co-ordinating Body usually also attend. Additional UK representation varies according to the agenda for each meeting and may include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations where there are items of sufficient interest. Members of the Scottish Executive have attended two meetings over the past 12 months.
	The Irregularities and Mutual Assistance Working Group is a technical sub-group of COCOLAF (Advisory Committee for the Co-ordination of Fraud Prevention). This working group looks at issues arising from irregularities within EAGGF guarantee section schemes. This working group is chaired by OLAF (European Anti-Fraud Office), which operates under an independent director-general.
	This working group met once in the last 12 months, in April 2002. It is due to meet again after the summer break.
	The UK representation on the working group is led by DEFRA, however the total representation depends on the agenda. A briefing meeting, organised by DEFRA, is usually held before the working group to discuss agenda items and decide on representation. The Rural Payments Agency (responsible for submitting irregularities on behalf of all UK paying agencies) are invited to attend as well as Treasury, Customs and Excise etc., and various other Departments who may have an interest in an agenda item. No expert nominated by the Scottish Executive attended the meeting last year.

Committee Mandates

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the EU committee on organic production of agricultural products is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; when it is next due to meet; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The mandate of the Regulatory Committee on Organic Farming is set out in Article 14 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. Standard rules of procedure were adopted by the Commission on 31 January 2001 in accordance with Council Regulation 1999/468/EC.
	The Regulatory Committee on Organic Farming met four times in the last 12 months and is due to meet next on 9 June. The UK is represented by officials from DEFRA but officials from the devolved Administrations are kept fully informed of the progress of the committee's work. In the last 12 months DEFRA officials also attended a further 24 out of the 26 meetings held of the committee's associated working groups.

Members of Parliament (Personal Data)

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information is held by her Department on each hon. Member in relation to (a) personal relationships, both current and past, (b) financial status and dealings, (c) connections with companies and interest groups, (d) connections with Governments and (e) published works; and what was held in January 2002.

Elliot Morley: Ministers and officials in this Department have access to published reference sources, as well as to the information about hon. Members made publicly available by the House authorities, for the purpose of parliamentary business.

Foot and Mouth

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent representations she has received about foot and mouth spot checks, conducted by police and trading standards officers, on farmers moving stock in the Vale of York;
	(2)  what recent representations she has received about the interruption of the moving of farmers' stock by police and trading standards officers conducting foot and mouth spot checks in the Vale of York;
	(3)  what recent representations she has received about the use of the police and trading standards officers to conduct foot and mouth spot checks on farmers moving stock in the Vale of York.

Elliot Morley: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not received any representations on this matter.
	Across the country, trading standards officers, with police support, are carrying out spot checks on animal movements as part of their enforcement responsibilities for the post FMD interim movement arrangements and I know that checks were carried out in the Thirsk area on 30 May, but we have not received any representations about them. My Department is encouraging local authorities to undertake these checks, based on local assessments of risk from the illegal movement of animals.

Foot and Mouth

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many sheep were disposed of at Great Orton, Cumbria; how many of those sheep tested positive for the foot and mouth virus; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 June 2002
	During the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease, 448,508 sheep were disposed of at the Great Orton burial site, Cumbria.
	We are not able to say whether any of the sheep were from premises that returned positive laboratory results as this specific set of information has not been collated.

Common Agricultural Policy

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of payments made under the CAP went (a) directly to farmers and (b) to other sectors, with specific reference to (i) the food processing industry and (ii) storage companies, in the most recent year for which statistics are available.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of payments made through the CAP went to (a) farmers, (b) the food processing industry and (c) other sectors in the last year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 17 June 2002
	Payments throughout the EU under the Common Agricultural Policy totalled 40,465 million euro in the budget year ending in October 2000. 25,529 million euro of this was spent on direct subsidies to farmers, 4,176 million euro on rural development (outside objective 1 areas), and 10,654 million euro on market support measures. The remainder was spent on veterinary and phytosanitary measures, and various information programmes.
	Almost all of the direct subsidies will have gone to farmers. They will also have received most of the rural development expenditure, although other businesses are eligible for certain programmes. For example, payments under the rural development measures that were implemented in England as the processing and marketing grant scheme are largely received by food processors, although processors of non-food crops are also eligible.
	The 10,654 million euro the Community spent on market support aimed to keep EU commodity prices above those prevailing elsewhere. This included the cost of export refunds (5,646 million euro), and of various intervention programmes (5,008 million euro). The cost of providing for public storage of products withheld from the market under these programmes came to some 379 million euro (excluding purchasing or financing costs); the cost of private storage was 574 million euro. Although many of the market support payments will in the first instance have gone to businesses specialising in trading or storage, these programmes will indirectly have improved most farmers' incomes.

Flood and Coastal Defence

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will list the local authorities who have not yet provided a High Level Target 1 policy statement for flood and coastal defence;
	(2)  if she will name the local authorities who have indicated that they are not prepared to produce a policy statement under High Level Targets for flood and coastal defence.

Elliot Morley: I placed the Environment Agency's report listing those local authorities from whom a policy statement under High Level Target 1 was awaited in the House Libraries on 24 May. Since the agency's report was compiled, statements have been received from the following local authorities:
	Mid Sussex district council
	Rotherham borough council
	Rushcliffe borough council
	Stockton-on-Tees borough council
	Teignbridge district council
	Burnley borough council
	Chesterfield borough council
	East Hampshire district council
	London borough of Bromley
	Mid Suffolk district council.
	We have not ascertained whether the authorities who have still not yet produced a policy statement are refusing to do so or if it is for other reasons. We plan to work with the Environment Agency and Local Government Association to encourage the production of policy statements especially by those local authorities who have significant flood and coastal defence responsibilities.

Flood and Coastal Defence

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money the Government have allocated to the Environment Agency in flood defence grants in each year since and including 1997; and what the overall expenditure spent on flood defence by the Government in the United Kingdom was in each year since and including 1997.

Elliot Morley: Flood and coastal erosion risk management is a devolved responsibility. The bulk of spending on flood and coastal defence in England comes from central Government either through the ODPM's support to local authorities through standard spending assessments (SSAs) which are intended in part to fund local authority levies to the Environment Agency, or through capital grants (and local authority Supplementary Credit Approvals) from DEFRA direct to the flood and coastal defence operating authorities (Environment Agency, local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards). Additional expenditure is incurred by DEFRA, for example to pay for the Storm Tide Forecasting Service. The table shows expenditure for England only:
	
		 million 
		
			  DEFRA grant and credit approvals
			  Environment Agency Other operating authorities DEFRA other expenditure ODPM SSAs Total 
		
		
			 199697 45.9 51.5 5.2 207.1 309.7 
			 199798 43.0 38.5 5.5 225.4 312.4 
			 199899 33.8 36.9 5.4 239.8 315.9 
			 19992000 33.0 36.2 5.1 252.0 326.3 
			 200001 41.9 24.6 4.9 257.1 328.5 
			 200102 (prov) 61.5 29.5 5.7 268.4 365.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are outturns of actual cash spent.
	2. 200102 figures for Other Operating Authorities are provisional, as credit approvals are yet to be finalised.
	3. The allocation for 199697 was increased significantly in-year by the redistribution of funds from elsewhere in the Department.
	4. In 200001 and 200102 local authorities under-achieved on coast protection works compared to their plans. They have recognised the need to improve project planning and the reliability of their forecasts.
	5. In addition to the above, some 40 million annually comes from other sources such as drainage rates and charges paid by farmers.

Flood and Coastal Defence

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason no preferred scheme for improved flood defences in Lewes has been announced by the Environment Agency; when such an announcement is expected; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 24 June 2002
	It is important to consider the need for flood management measures within an overall strategy so as not to create problems elsewhere. The Environment Agency has commissioned consultants to prepare a strategy for the river Ouse catchment, covering flood problems at Lewes and other points in the valley. I understand that detailed checking of data and modelling work is being undertaken prior to the planned presentation of the strategy to the Sussex Flood Defence Committee in July prior to submission to DEFRA. I also understand that the strategy includes a preferred option for defence measures in Lewes.
	I understand that the agency has consulted widely in preparing the strategy and, subject to consideration by the Sussex Flood Defence Committee, plans to arrange a public exhibition.

Flooding (Insurance)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she is making in securing an extension to the agreement in place between the Government and the Association of British Insurers to provide cover in flood affected areas, with particular reference to Lewes.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 24 June 2002
	The Government are working hard with the Association of British Insurers to try to ensure the continued, widespread availability of affordable flood cover beyond the end of 2002. There have been regular meetings with the insurance industry, at both ministerial and official level, to consider their calls for increased investment in flood and coastal defence, controls on development in areas at risk of flooding, simplified arrangement for implementing flood defences and better information on real flood risk. I expect to meet again with the industry later in the summer.

Illegal Meat Imports

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her reply of 10 June 2002, ref. 53704, on illegal meat imports, how many (a) operational enforcement officers were employed in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000, (v) 2001 and (vi) 2002 to date and (b) seizures of illegal meat imports there were in each of those years.

Elliot Morley: There are enforcement officers employed by local and port health authorities, HM Customs and Excise, Meat Hygiene Service and DEFRA who contribute directly or indirectly to policing laws on meat imports. Total numbers are not held centrally.
	A central database of information on seizures was created in April 2001. The details of seizures made during 2001 and the beginning of 2002 are still being received. Our database currently shows 1,224 seizures of consignments containing meat made in 2001 and 274 seizures in 2002.

Peat Alternatives

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to promote the use of peat alternatives in horticulture; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Peat is a major constituent of growing media used in gardening and commercial horticulture. It is well suited to a wide range of uses and comes from a variety of sources in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and the Baltic states.
	The UK Biodiversity Action Plan commits the Government to undertake and promote research and development into sustainable alternatives to peat and provide advice on the development and marketing of peat alternatives. The aim of the plan is for 40 per cent. of the total market requirements to be peat free by 2005 and 90 per cent. by 2010.
	There has already been some substitution of peat by other materials, such as coir and bark, with some degrees of success. We have been funding seminars for the ornamentals sector for some time to increase awareness of and to examine the potential for using reduced-peat and peat free alternatives and to encourage commercial growers and others to take them up where they are already available.
	However, it is recognised that substantial peat replacement will take some time to achieve and there are still considerable difficulties to be overcome in producing alternative growing media of sufficiently reliable and consistent quality to replace peat in the full range of its present uses.
	We will be working actively with interested parties to build on progress made so far in this area. As part of this, we have decided to build on the work of the Peat Working Group by establishing a new group, under the chairmanship of DEFRA, which will bring together all this Department's policies that affect the production and use of peat and peat alternatives, and provide a forum for consideration of the various factors in working towards the targets for peat substitution.

Holsworthy Biogas Project

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will discuss with the managers of the Holsworthy Biogas project the recently published Composting Risk Assessment; and if she will instruct the Environment Agency to discuss with the managers of the project the Provisional Pollution Prevention and Control Permit BK 5088 issued in relation to this project; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 17 June 2002
	The risk assessment commissioned by DEFRA on the treatment of catering waste through biogas plants was presented at a conference on 7 June. We are reviewing the Animal By-Products Order 1999 in the light of the assessment. Representatives from Holsworthy Biogas are included on the expert panel which is assisting with the review.
	We regard to the Pollution, Prevention and Control permit, officials from the Environmental Agency are in discussion with Holsworthy Biogas.

Ministerial Visits (Wales)

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) date, (b) location and (c) purpose was of visits by Ministers in her Department to Wales since 1997; and when she next intends to visit Wales.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 17 June 2002
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Since the creation of DEFRA on 7 June 2001 the Department's Ministers have been on the following visits to Wales:
	
		
			 Date Purpose Venue 
		
		
			 Alun Michael   
			 25 July 2001 National Park Authority AGM Cardiff 
			 1 February 2002 Rural Affairs Q  A session Cardiff 
			 25 April 2002 Question Time Caernarvon 
			 11 June 2002 Queen's Jubilee Thanksgiving Service Bangor 
			 20 June 2002(2) National Park Authority AGM Cardiff 
			
			 Lord Whitty   
			 1 February 2002 Bilateral with Carwyn Jones Bridgend 
			
			 Elliot Morley   
			 11 October 2002(2) IWS 2002 Annual Convention Cardiff 
		
	
	(2) Planned

Farm Animal Welfare

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to integrate good standards of farm animal welfare into her strategy for the future of farming; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Encouraging high standards of animal welfare on farm is already at the heart of Government policy and will continue to play a role in the Department's new strategy for sustainable food and farming.

Timber

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department has put in place to ensure the authenticity of certificates identifying the origin of tropical hardwood imports.

Elliot Morley: Central Government Departments and their agencies are required as a matter of policy to actively seek to buy their timber and timber products from sustainable and legal sources, for example, those identified under independent certification schemes such as that operated by the Forest Stewardship Council.
	My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment, (Mr. Meacher) has written to Green Ministers to explain that his Department has commissioned consultants to suggest guidance that will assist Government buyers to implement this policy. The consultants' report will address the issue of verifying claims made by contractors for the origin of timber supplied, including claims supported by certificates. The report is expected to be completed in the summer of 2002. In the meantime Departments have been given a model contract specification clause that requires suppliers to: (a) establish a chain of custody from the source of timber through to delivery of the final product, and (b) to provide documentary evidence and independent verification of the claims being made. The Forest Stewardship Council's certification scheme is identified as one way in which these requirements would be satisfied but the clause makes clear that suppliers may offer alternatives evidence of compliance.
	To complement the Government's timber procurement policy we are pursuing a strategy of seeking to reach bi-lateral agreements with producing countries that would see the development of independently verified documentation to prove the legality of timber shipments to the UK. Once such memorandum of understanding has been entered into with the Government of Indonesia. The forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development may crystallise the interest of other countries around this issue.
	The Government are considering whether there is scope for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to play a bigger part in helping to control the export and import of illegally logged timber and proposes to explore options with EU member states and the CITES range states.
	To help tropical countries meet the Government's requirement for legally logged and sustainably managed timber, UK Government officials have participated in an expert advisory group tasked with developing guidance for tropical countries on establishing verification mechanisms and in international meetings convened to explore co-operation between the various certification initiatives.

Tree Diseases

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the threat to (a) alders and (b) willows by phytophthora infections; how that assessment is influencing her policy; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 June 2002
	Phytophthoras are a group of microscopic fungal pathogens responsible for plant diseases in many parts of the world. While some cause severe damage, including death of trees, others are of little consequence.
	The Phytophthora disease of alder is present in England, Scotland and Wales and is most active in the south-west and south-east of England. Surveys of the disease in 2000 and 2001 established that an estimated 600,000 trees were affected: around 12 to 14 per cent. of the alder population. Researchers at the Forestry Commission Research Agency (FCRA) have established that the cause of the disease is a new hybrid pathogen which is very damaging to alder. The putative parents cause little or no damage to alder but can be aggressive pathogens of other woody hosts.
	In addition to the UK, the disease is present in 10 other European countries. Movement of infected plants has probably facilitated its rapid dissemination and infected stock may start new foci of infection when planted out. Research is continuing to further improve methods of managing the disease and diagnosing the pathogen. As with most Phytophthoras, control is difficult and eradication from already infected riparian habitats would be impossible. As this particular disease is so widespread, quarantine controls would be ineffective.
	It is rare for willows to suffer from disease caused by species of Phytophthora and they do not appear to be susceptible to the new hybrid Phytophthora that causes disease of alder.

Sheep Movements

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on how her Department intends to overcome difficulties in the manner in which the 20-day standstill is being interpreted for sheep movement in (a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 June 2002
	DEFRA officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the National Assembly for Wales Agriculture Department and the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department and together they seek to find a solution to any practical difficulties arising from the differences in the livestock movements controls.
	The Government will not make decisions about possible changes to the current standstill rules until Ministers have seen the recommendations of the Royal Society and lessons learned inquiries. Those decisions will be taken in discussion with the devolved Administrations and with stakeholders.

Salmon

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total percentage of salmon caught by (a) the Scottish Nets, (b) Northumbrian Nets, (c) Yorkshire Nets, (d) Scottish Rods and (e) Northumbrian Rods was in each year since 1990; and what the total number of salmon caught in the United Kingdom was in each of those years.

Elliot Morley: The most recent information is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Scottish nets Northumbrian nets Yorkshire nets Scottish rods(3) Northumbrian rods(3) Total UK 
			  Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number catch(3),(4) 
		
		
			 1990 33.9 97,400 15.0 43,048 3.0 8,482 24.9 71,600 0.5 1,449 287,328 
			 1991 36.4 76,300 10.8 22,525 1.4 2,904 30.0 62,400 0.6 1,263 209,534 
			 1992 39.0 101,600 7.0 18,567 0.6 1,577 31.4 82,900 0.7 1,749 263,846 
			 1993 32.2 86,800 13.8 37,097 1.7 4,703 29.5 79,500 0.6 1,656 269,638 
			 1994 34.0 106,400 13.6 42,547 1.3 4,007 26.7 83,300 0.6 1,772 312,529 
			 1995 31.9 93,900 16.9 49,801 1.2 3,409 29.3 86,100 0.7 2,053 294,134 
			 1996 30.7 64,700 8.4 17,784 0.4 797 33.0 69,600 1.2 2,466 210,860 
			 1997 21.1 37,100 11.3 19,828 1.2 2,094 34.6 60,700 1.3 2,356 175,556 
			 1998 17.9 31,800 9.2 16,298 1.1 1,967 41.2 73,100 1.6 2,786 177,244 
			 1999 12.9 17,900 18.1 25,013 1.3 1,820 37.9 52,500 1.8 2,540 138,385 
			 2000 18.0 35,500 20.1 39,635 1.9 3,719 33.2 65,600 1.7 3,451 197,426 
		
	
	(3) Includes data on catch and release.
	(4) Excludes any NI rod catch for which no details are available.

Salmon and Trout

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the stocking programme for salmon and trout on the River Esk has been over the last 20 years; when it was last stocked; and who provided the finance.

Elliot Morley: Details of salmon stocking on the River Esk are shown in the table. The Esk was last stocked with salmon in 2002 in mitigation for a pollution accidentcompensation was obtained from the polluter. No sea trout have been stocked but between 700 and 1,200 brown trout have been stocked annually by angling clubs or fishery owners.
	
		
			  Salmon  
			  Unfed fry 0+ parr 1+ parr smolts Total 
		
		
			 1982 0 
			 1983 0 
			 1984(5)30,320 30,320 
			 1985(5) 50,00050,000 
			 1986(5) 50,00050,000 
			 1987(5) 50,00050,000 
			 1988(5)   15,000  15,000 
			 1989(5)   12,000  12,000 
			 1990(5)   10,900  10,900 
			 1991(5) 50,000  50,000  100,000 
			 1992(5) 50,000  60,000  110,000 
			 1993(5) 10,000  5,202  15,202 
			 1994(5) 50,000  6,866  56,866 
			 1995(5)   7,852  7,852 
			 1996(5)   3,700  3,700 
			 1997(6)  14,000   14,000 
			 1998(6)  60,000   60,000 
			 1999(6)  25,000   25,000 
			 2000(6)  30,000   30,000 
			 2001 0 
			 2002   12,000  12,000 
		
	
	(5) Joint: River Esk Action Committee/Environment Agency or predecessor
	(6) River Esk Regeneration Programme (including European funds through Objective 5b)

Countryside, Liberty and Livelihood March

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if representatives of the Government will attend the Countryside, Liberty and Livelihood march on 22 September.

Alun Michael: There are no plans to do so.

Tallow

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much tallow produced under the over-thirty-months scheme has been sold in each year since the scheme began (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) when exported overseas; and for what purpose it has been sold.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 21 June 2002
	Since the introduction of the over-thirty-months slaughter scheme (OTMS) a total of 384,345 tonnes of tallow has been produced to date.
	All tallow generated from cattle slaughtered under OTMS is to be incinerated (with energy recovery).
	A total of 170,897 tonnes has been incinerated to date. This equates to a total of 13,271 tonnes for 1996, 29,711 tonnes for 1997, 15,896 tonnes for 1998, 28,188 tonnes for 1999, 37,409 tonnes for 2000, 27,274 tonnes for 2001 and 21,315 tonnes to date for 2002.
	No tallow has been exported.

Tallow

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much revenue has been raised from the sale of tallow produced under the over-thirty-months scheme in each year since the scheme started in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) overseas.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 21 June 2002
	No financial information is available in a calendar year basis. Please see the income from tallow sales by financial year.
	
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 199697 (7) 
			 199798 (7) 
			 199899 333,397.00 
			 19992000 1,454,308.00 
			 200001 968,638.00 
			 200102(8) 734,069.00 
		
	
	(7) Income for tallow sales not separately identifiable, included under general receipts.
	(8) Invoice payments are outstanding.

Tallow

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the notification and results of tenders to dispose of tallow produced under the over-thirty-months scheme are not published in the Official Journal.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 21 June 2002
	The RPA is currently evaluating the bids received in connection with the OTMS tallow disposal tender. Following contract award, details of the successful tenderers will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. The original contract award date was spring 2001 but the tender was suspended due to the foot and mouth crisis. The disposal was readvertised with a planned contract start date of spring 2002. The RPA expects contract award in mid July 2002.

Tallow

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what restrictions apply to the sale of tallow produced in the United Kingdom under the over-thirty-months scheme (a) in the UK and (b) when being exported overseas.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 21 June 2002
	Over-thirty-month slaughter scheme (OTMS) tallow produced is currently incinerated (with energy recovery) at plants in the UK only. No tallow has been exported.
	OTMS tallow remains the property of and under the control of RPA until it is incinerated.

EU Management Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Management Committees of the common organisations of agricultural markets for milk and milk products is next due to meet; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The mandate of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products is to facilitate the implementation of measures relating to the common organisation of the market for these products.
	The committee has met 22 times over the last 12 months. It is due to meet next on Thursday 27 June 2002.
	The make up of the UK delegation is dependant on the agenda for each meeting, but would normally be lead by a DEFRA official and would include an official from the Scottish Executive if there was an item of particular interest. However, there have been no occasions in the last 12 months where the Scottish Executive have sought to have an official form part of the delegation.

Royal Prerogative

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what decisions have been made by her Department in the last year under authority from the royal prerogative.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 25 June 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided on 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 172W.

Sheep National Envelope

Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has reached decisions on implementation of the sheep national envelope in England.

Margaret Beckett: Under the revised EU sheepmeat regime national envelopes were introduced to provide member states with an element of flexibility in how they support their sheep sectors; funds under the envelope can be used to provide extra support to producers, improve the marketing and production of sheepmeat and encourage more environmentally friendly farming practices. National envelopes can be implemented on a regional basis; this is being done in the United Kingdom.
	In England, the national envelope is worth 5.4 million in 2002. There is also a provision in the revised regime permitting member states, or parts of member states, to increase the size of the national envelope by reducing the basic rate of Sheep Annual Premium by up to one Euro. This could increase the size of the envelope in England by around 5 million.
	The Government issued a consultation letter in January seeking views on how the national envelope should be used in England. We have now considered the responses we received, and have reached decisions on the way forward.
	The Government intend to make maximum use of the flexibility we negotiated at the Agriculture Council to switch support from subsidies per breeding ewe to support for restructuring and modernising the industry in line with the strategy set out in the Curry Commission Report. This means that, after a transitional year this year, we will by 2003 use the maximum available under the scheme to reduce sheep numbers in historically overgrazed areas by encouraging extensification in the uplands and to improve the quality and marketing of sheep.
	For the transitional year of 2002, we intend to introduce a scheme to reduce sheep numbers in areas subject to historic overgrazing. Under the scheme the Government will purchase sheep quota from producers, who in return will be required to undertake to maintain lower stocking levels on the land in question. The scheme will operate by tender; in deciding which offers should be accepted we will take into account both price and other relevant factors such as the extent of historic overgrazing. The scheme will be open for applications in the autumn, and we hope that offers will be dealt with before the close of the next quota-trading period.
	2 million will be allocated to the quota purchase scheme in 2002. The remains of the 2002 national envelope will be paid to producers as a top-up to Sheep Annual Premium payments; this will be worth some 46 pence per eligible animal.
	For 2003, and in subsequent years, we intend to make full use of the opportunity in the new regulation to increase the size of the national envelope by reducing the rate of the Sheep Annual Premium. This will enable us to fund a range of schemes from the national envelope.
	The quota purchase scheme will be retained in 2003 and beyond; the level of resources allocated to the scheme will be decided in the light of our experience this year, but we expect it to be at least 1 million a year.
	We are minded to introduce two further schemes in 2003: an upland Extensification Scheme and an Industry Development Scheme.
	the Upland Extensification Scheme will be linked to Hill Farming Allowances, and will pay additional sums, on a per hectare basis, to producers in less favoured areas who stock sheep below certain stocking levels; there are likely to be different stocking criteria and payment rates for different categories of land;
	the Industry Development Scheme will seek to encourage producers to participate in existing initiatives intended to improve the marketing and quality of sheepmeat. The details of the scheme still need to be developed, but the intention is to pay producers, via an uplift in their Sheep Annual Premium payments, who participate in eligible schemes. These might include recognised assurance schemes; sire referencing and genetic improvement schemes; schemes linked to the National Scrapie Plan; recognised local-marketing initiatives.
	We will be consulting interested parties further on the details of these two schemes. We will also be considering, in the light of further views we receive, whether any further schemes should be introduced in 2003 or thereafter. Schemes will be operated by the RPA.
	The Government believe that these schemes will make a major contribution towards addressing the problem of historic overgrazing in the uplands and improving the responsiveness of the sheep industry to the market. We recognise, however, that schemes funded from the national envelope can only form one element of the co-ordinated programme of measures needed to restore habitats damaged by historic overgrazing. We will be looking to English Nature to take appropriate action under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, encouraging producers to make use of agri-environment schemes and considering what steps we can take, including use of the cross compliance rules where appropriate, to reduce stocking pressure on land in unfavourable environmental conditions.

Livestock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) sailings with livestock and (b) consignments have passed through UK ports in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	The Department does not hold information on the number of sailings with livestock which pass through UK ports.
	The information on livestock consignments which pass through UK ports is not available in the form requested. The number of export health certificates for livestock issued in Great Britain (including those for export to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands but not including exports from Northern Ireland) in the last five years was as follows. The computer system from which the following data were obtained does not record whether the consignments were exported through seaports or airports.
	
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1997 4,585 
			 1998 5,457 
			 1999 5,378 
			 2000 4,656 
			 2001 555 
		
	
	These figures may be subject to updating and amendment and may not include some exports which took place during December 2000. This was due to a computer malfunction.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Millennium Dome

Tim Yeo: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  on what date he expects the Government to receive their first payment under their profit sharing agreement with Meridian Delta and Anschutz Entertainment;
	(2)  if the profit sharing agreement between Meridian Delta and Anschutz Entertainment and the Government includes a guaranteed (a) minimum and (b) maximum return;
	(3)  if he will publish the profit sharing agreement between Meridian Delta and Anschutz Entertainment and the Government;
	(4)  when he expects the cost of the Millennium Dome to be fully recouped by the Government under its profit sharing agreement with Meridian Delta and Anschutz Entertainment;
	(5)  if he will list the minimum profit thresholds that are part of the profit sharing agreement between Meridian Delta and Anschutz Entertainment and the Government.

Tony McNulty: As stated previously, the net present value of the agreements signed between English Partnerships and Anschutz Entertainment Group and Meridian Delta Ltd. on 29 May, is around 240 million, or up to 550 million in cash terms, assuming the full scheme is developed.
	English Partnerships and the Lottery will receive a fair split of the proceeds from the sale of the dome and land on the Greenwich Peninsula. No decisions have yet been made on the split, including timing.
	Under the terms of the deal, Anschutz Entertainment Group and Meridian Delta Ltd. will receive a priority return from the dome redevelopment, to reflect the 200 million investment that will be made in the dome. The details of the priority returns, and of the legal agreements as a whole, are commercially confidential. Release of commercial details could affect on-going discussions with third parties, both before and after planning permission is obtained; and the ability of English Partnerships to secure maximum value for money for the public purse.
	On the wider land, English Partnerships will receive payments for development at the point when legal ownership of the site transfers from EP. Ownership will transfer on a plot by plot basis over the lifetime of the joint venture with Meridian Delta Ltd. (MDL) and will occur only after MDL has spent substantial sums on planning, marketing and installation of the infrastructure needed to support the redevelopment of the peninsula. The precise timing of all these payments depends on when planning permission is granted and the precise phasing of development.
	The timing of the first payment to English Partnerships under the profit sharing arrangement for the dome depends on how long it takes to obtain planning permission, how long to undertake the development and how long to generate profits.
	Anschutz and Meridian Delta Ltd. are required to maintain the dome until 2018. Should they then decide to remove the dome structure and redevelop the land, English Partnerships will be entitled to a 50 per cent. share of redevelopment proceeds.

Fire Brigades Union

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on pay negotiations with the Fire Brigades Union.

Nick Raynsford: The Government have no statutory role in determining firefighters' pay. Representatives from local government, representing the employers, and from the Fire Brigades Union, representing employees, are responsible for negotiating firefighters' pay and conditions of service. These groups meet in the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades. We understand that the two sides are currently in discussion on the Fire Brigades Union pay claim, which was formally tabled on the 28 May. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on the progress of these negotiations.

Supporting People Grant

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Supporting People grant.

Tony McNulty: The Government have allocated 40 million to local authorities to fund the implementation of the Supporting People Programme in 200203. This is in addition to the 15.2 million allocated to local authorities in 200102. The Programme goes live in April 2003, and baseline allocations for 200304 will be based on current spend in 200203, plus an allowance for inflation. ODPM is providing guidance to assist local authorities in identifying current spend. Allocations for 200405 should be derived from the final report of the Supporting People Allocation Formula project, which is due by March 2003. The report will summarise the main features of the funding model, how it has been derived, target allocations and pace of change issues.

China

Ian Gibson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations concerning the situation in Tibet he made to Li Ruihuan, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, during Chairman Li's recent visit to the UK; and what response he received.

John Prescott: My right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor discussed the situation in Tibet with Li Ruihuan during his recent visit to the UK. I made no representations to him on the matter.

China

Ian Gibson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he made to Vice Premier Wen Jiabao and other Chinese leaders concerning the situation in Tibet during his recent visit to China; and what response he received.

John Prescott: China is well aware of the UK Government's position on Tibet. I made no representations to Wen Jiabao or other Chinese leaders concerning the situation in Tibet during my recent trip to China.

Mobile Home Parks

Helen Clark: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines he plans to issue to councils on their responsibilities concerning mobile home parks.

Tony McNulty: The Government have, in the last two years, issued good practice guidance to local authorities on how to deal with incidences of harassment and illegal eviction of mobile home residents, and on the licensing of mobile home parks.
	Research is planned to review the Model Standards on which these site licences are based. After its completion revised standards will be issued to local authorities in conjunction with further guidance.

Lone Parents

David Willetts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many lone parents aged 16 and 17 years reside in local authority accommodation with (a) on-site support, (b) floating support and (c) no specialist support.

Tony McNulty: Available information reported by local authorities in England on last year's Housing Investment Programme returns indicated a total of some 260 units with on-site support, and 390 with floating support occupied by lone parents under the age of 18 as at 1 April 2001. The corresponding number in non-supported accommodation on that date was not collected, but authorities reported making just over 1,800 lettings to lone parents under 18 years of age during 200001.

Stunt Performers (Health and Safety)

Ian Lucas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it compulsory for stunt co-ordinators and performers in film and television work to obtain certificates of qualification in health and safety.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no plans to put in place such requirements.

Pavements (Disabled Access)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funds he is providing to enable local councils to make pavements accessible by wheelchairs in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	Apart from major local transport schemes (those with a gross cost exceeding 5 million) local transport capital allocations are provided to English local authorities outside London in the form of a single block allocation the use of which is at their discretion. Such allocations can be used to make pavements accessible to wheelchair users. It is for local authorities to determine their local priorities.
	For 200203, Gloucestershire county council has been provided with a single block allocation of 16.489 million from within a total allocation for England of 1.2 billion.
	Our Ten Year Transport Plan reiterated our commitment to transport that is accessible to disabled people. It made clear that building in accessibility for disabled people in all new investment is a condition of public money being provided.

Human Rights Commission

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans there are to create a Human Rights Commission for the UK; and how such a Commission will cater for the rights of children and young people.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The case for a Human Rights Commission for the UK is currently being considered by the Joint Committee on Human Rights. The Government will consider carefully any recommendation the Committee may make. I understand that the Committee is looking into how any Commission may cater for the rights of children and young people.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

EU Membership

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many candidate countries for EU membership he has visited since 7 June 2001.

Peter Hain: Since 7 June 2001, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has visited Poland in October 2001 and Turkey in October 2001 and February 2002. He will be visiting some of the other candidate countries in the near future.
	I visited the Czech Republic in September 2001 and January 2002 (for the Visegrad 4 meeting), Poland in March 2002, Hungary in September 2001, Slovenia in January 2002 and Cyprus in April 2002.

Entertainment Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of the Department's 2001 staff Christmas party; and how many people attended.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office held a Christmas carol concert on 17 December 2001. Staff and members of their family and friends wishing to attend purchased a ticket at a cost of 5 per adult and 1 per child under 11 years. A total of 1,923 was received from the sale of tickets.
	The costs attributed to staging this event amounted to 2,832.64.

Competitive Tendering

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the last 12 months the requirement to engage in a competitive tendering process has been waived by his Department due to national security obligations under paragraph 6(h) of the supply regulations.

Denis MacShane: We have claimed the security exemption and subsequently not held a tender competition on four occasions over the last year. Once for the purchase of aircraft equipment, and on the other occasions, for the purchase of armoured vehicles for use at our overseas posts.

Marwan Barghouti

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the UK Government have made to the Government of Israel about the conditions in which Marwan Barghouti is being held by the Israeli authorities.

Mike O'Brien: I referred to Marwan Barghouti's detention with the Israeli Ambassador on 18 June 2002. The UK and EU partners will continue to monitor developments closely and will continue to raise our concerns about Palestinian detainees, including Barghouti, with the Israeli authorities.

Al-Qaeda

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of Chechen involvement in al-Qaeda; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: There are numerous reports of links between al-Qaeda and some groups fighting in Chechnya. Emir Khattab, the recently assassinated leader of the Arab mujaheddin in Chechnya, fought in Afghanistan and was reputedly a close friend of UBL. Shamil Basayev, an ethnic Chechen who shares UBL's extreme brand of Islam, underwent advanced combat training in a camp in Afghanistan. However, the nature of the al-Qaeda organisation makes it impossible accurately to assess the full extent of Chechen involvement.

Victims of Torture

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom plans to mark UN International Day for Victims of Torture.

Denis MacShane: On Wednesday 26 June, UN International Day in support of Victims of Torture, the FCO will launch phase 3 of the UK anti-Torture Initiative.
	During the first two phases of the UK Anti-Torture Initiative, launched in October 1998 and December 2000 by the President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons, my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook), the UK combined a global lobbying campaign for universal ratification of the UN Convention against Torture (at the time ratified by just over 50 per cent. of UN member states) with a number of practical measures, including the publication and distribution of 20,000 copies in seven languages of a handbook giving guidance on reporting instances of torture, financial support for the UN's work with torture victims and the secondment of a senior UK police officer to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture.
	Phase 3 will combine continued global lobbying with new practical steps. Since December 1998, 13 more countries have ratified the UN CAT. Our target is to secure another five ratifications by the end of 2003, bringing the total to 134 or 70 per cent. We will also be lobbying with EU partners for the adoption of the Draft Optional Protocol to the CAT. The Protocol is intended to help prevent torture by allowing both UN and independent national teams the right to inspect places of detention in signatory countries.
	New practical measures for Phase 3 will include:
	A new publication on judicial safeguards to provide judiciary and law makers worldwide with examples of best practice regarding judicial control of torture;
	Support for the African Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur on Prisons in particular her monitoring role of prison conditions with regard to the prevention of torture;
	Establishment of a visiting programme to UK for senior clinicians who work in countries where the practice of torture is widespread for work placements with leading NGOs involved in torture rehabilitation; and
	The FCO will also continue to provide financial support of 175,000 per year to the UN Voluntary Fund for the victims of torture which provides urgent medical and legal support worldwide.
	Phase 3 will be the last stage of activity. After this, to consolidate efforts of the past three years to combat torture, the FCO is planning to mainstream torture work within the FCO's general Human Rights mandate and set up a panel of experts to advise on future strategy.

Chagos Archipelago

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans have been made for the Chagossians to visit the Chagos Archipelago.

Mike O'Brien: The Government of the British Indian Ocean Territory is organising and paying for the charter of a ship to take about 100 Chagossians to the outer islands of the Chagos Archipelago to visit ancestral graves. Subject to agreement with the representatives of those concerned, the shipthe M/S Mauritius Trochetiawill depart from Port Louis on 5 October and will visit the islands of Peros Banhos and Salomon. It is expected to return on 17 October. The British high commissions in Mauritius and Seychelles are in contact with the leaders of the various Chagossian groups and are inviting them to draw up a jointly agreed list of passengers.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

Ministerial Salaries

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council what the annual cost was of ministerial salaries in his Department in (a) 199798 and (b) 200102.

Robin Cook: The level of ministerial salaries is recommended by the Senior Salaries Review Body. From May 1997, in this Department there were two Cabinet Ministers, with a total annual salary 125,308. From June 2001, there was one Cabinet Minister, at an annual salary of 68,157 and one Parliamentary Secretary, at an annual salary of 26,835.

Annual Leave

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council what the average annual leave entitlement is for staff in his Department in 2002.

Robin Cook: In my Department, staff with less than 10 years service are entitled to 25 days annual leave each year; staff with 10 years or more service are entitled to 30 days. Annual leave entitlement for members of the senior civil service is currently set by the Cabinet Office at 30 days.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Grants

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which organisations which were in receipt of a grant from her in 199798 no longer are; what the annual saving is; which organisations which were not in receipt of a grant in 199798 now are; and what the annual cost is.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member on 17 June 2002, Official Report, columns 13637W.

Golden Jubilee

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the members of the Ministerial Group for the Golden Jubilee.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 24 June 2002
	The membership of this group, which I chair, is being adjusted to reflect the recent changes of ministerial responsibilities. The previous membership was as follows:
	President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
	Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
	Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office
	Secretary of State, Wales Office
	Secretary of State, Scotland Office
	Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
	Secretary of State for Education and Skills
	Minister for Sport, Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	Minister of State, Cabinet Office
	Financial Secretary, HM Treasury
	Minister of State for the Armed Forces
	Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department
	Parliamentary-Under-Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	Parliamentary Secretary, Home Office
	Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions
	First Minister, Scottish Executive
	First Minister, National Assembly for Wales
	Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Northern Ireland Executive
	Private Secretary to Her Majesty the Queen
	The Mayor of London
	Head of the Golden Jubilee Office.

Licensing (Live Music)

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to reform the two in a bar system; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Our plans for the modernisation of the licensing regimes were set out clearly in the White Paper Time for Reform (Cm.4696) published on 10 April 2000. We proposed that the current exemption from public entertainment that allows two musicians to perform live in premises licensed for the sale of alcohol should end. This is because one or two live musicians using powerful microphones and amplifiers can make more noise and so generate more nuisance for local residents than three without. Alcohol and public entertainment licensing will be integrated into a single scheme. This will remove at a stroke a considerable amount of existing red tape and reduce the licensing costs which currently deter many venues from providing live music and dancing. The reforms will be implemented by means of primary legislation to be brought forward as soon as parliamentary time permits.

Independent Television Production

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will make a statement of the value to the economy of the independent television production sector in the United Kingdom;
	(2)  if the proportion of programmes required to be sourced from the independent production sector is based upon that sector's estimated contribution to creativity in UK television.

Kim Howells: Independent productions are an important component of the television landscape in the United Kingdom. The 25 per cent. independent productions quota, set out in the Broadcasting Act 1990, has helped maintain the diversity of British television, supported the development of creative and technical skills and helped create a thriving and innovative production industrytotal expenditure by UK broadcasters on independent programming was around 750 million in 1999. We want this to continue to develop and have therefore retained the obligations in the recently published draft Communications Bill (Cm 5508-I).

Film Council

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what were the total employment costs of staff employed by the Film Council in each year of its operation;
	(2)  how many staff are employed in each department of the Film Council.

Kim Howells: The total employment costs of staff employed by the Film Council for each full year of the Film Council's existence, building up from its foundation as a new organisation, are:
	200001: 2,461,000
	200102: 3,739,000.
	There are 83 people employed at the Film Council. These include staff transferred from the British Film Institute, the Arts Council of England, the British Film Commission and the British Screen Finance group of companies, all previously employed using public subsidy.
	In addition, the Film Council has taken on extra work such as statistical evidence gathering, called for by the Government's Film Policy Review, and the UK Media Desk.
	This can be broken down as:
	Strategy15
	Funding28
	Resources24
	British Film Commission12
	Business Affairs4.

Film Council

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many consultants were employed by the Film Council in each year of its operation, stating for each consultant (a) the purpose of their employment and (b) the number of hours they were employed for;
	(2)  what the total employment costs were of consultants employed by the Film Council in each year of its operation.

Kim Howells: In 200001, the Film Council's first full year of operation, 526,289.55p or 0.8 per cent. of turnover was spent on employing consultants. In 200102, 897,423.18p or 1.4 per cent. of turnover was spent on consultants. In 200001, 30 consultants were employed. Of the 30 consultants in total employed, 17 were paid less than 10,000 and 22 were paid less than 20,000.
	In 200102, the Film Council employed 46 consultants. Of the 47 consultants in total employed, 25 were paid less than 10,000 and 29 were paid less than 20,000.
	The consultants were employed to help set up the new organisation's infrastructure and to inform the development of its new strategy. They worked on a wide range of specific projects, including areas of strategic development, training, monitoring, cultural diversity and development of European policy.
	It is not possible to state the number of hours for which the consultants were employed.
	These figures exclude the cost of legal advice, corporate print and design, and internal and external auditing advice.

Film Council

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the films for which it has been a condition of a grant made by the Film Council that a member of their staff receive a personal credit on the film.

Kim Howells: The list of films for which it has been a condition of a grant made by the Film Council that a member of their staff receive a personal credit on the film is shown in the following list. This list comprises feature film projects where an offer has been accepted and has not lapsed. The credits reflect the roles played by Film Council staff in creative development, structuring of finance (in addition to Film Council investment) safeguarding finance, creative roles undertaken during production and post-production and advice given during the marketing and distribution processes.
	New Cinema Fund titles:
	Anita and Me
	Ape
	Bloody Sunday
	Body Song
	Emotional Backgammon
	Entering Blue Zone
	Helen of Peckham
	Hoover Street Revival
	Live Forever
	Magdalene
	Noi the Albino
	Once upon a Time in the Midlands
	Revengers Tragedy
	Tomorrow La Scala (aka Sweeney)
	The Wooden Camera
	This is Not a Love Song
	Premiere Fund titles:
	Braids, Twists and Tales
	Five Children and It
	Gosford Park
	L'Homme du Train
	Miranda
	Mike Bassett, England Manager
	The Importance of Being Earnest
	Water Warriors
	Young Adam.

Millennium Dome

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the total cost of (a) the Millennium Dome and (b) the Millennium Experience in each year since 1996.

Kim Howells: Expenditure incurred on the Millennium Experience by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) was as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 April 1997March 1998 90 
			 April 1998March 1999 179 
			 AprilDecember 1999 330 
			 JanuaryDecember 2000 177 
			 JanuaryDecember 2001 18 
		
	
	These figures include the cost of the London Riverside new year's eve celebrations of 31 December 1999. It is not possible to separate the amount of expenditure by NMEC on the dome as the national programme included elements both at the dome itself and throughout the country. Expenditure incurred by NMEC before 1 April 1997 is included under 199798. The figure for 2001 takes account of rebates and savings on costs provided for in the previous years' accounts.
	Expenditure on the Millennium Dome by English Partnerships was as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 March 1999-February 2001 6.70 
			 July-December 2001 9.75 
		
	
	All costs incurred by English Partnerships will be recovered from eventual sale proceeds.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Volunteers

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many members of his staff in each of the past two years have been granted a day's paid leave to work as a volunteer; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Department's special leave policy actively supports voluntary public service by allowing staff both paid and unpaid leave for public duties, including carrying out voluntary work. However the information on the number of staff granted paid leave to enable them to carry out voluntary work is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Pensions Policy

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in his Department are involved in monitoring and developing pensions policy.

Ian McCartney: There are currently around 150 people in the teams responsible for developing, designing, supporting and monitoring state and private pension policy. Many more people across the Department, including staff providing the day-to-day service to customers, computer specialists, statisticians, economists and legal advisers, contribute to planning for and delivering the Government's agenda for both today's and future pensioners.

Welfare Spending

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 17 April 2002 to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison), Official Report, column 1004W, on welfare, what plans he has to calculate the proportion of the total welfare bill spent on those living below 60 per cent of the median income.

Malcolm Wicks: None.

Appeals

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many appeals against decisions made at (a) all-work tests and (b) personal capability assessments were (i) heard and decided and (ii) decided in the appellant's favour in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what the average length of time was between lodging an appeal against (a) an all-work test and (b) a personal capability assessment decision and having that appeal heard in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for Neil Ward, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. He will write to the hon. Gentleman.
	Letter from Neil Ward to Mr. Paul Holmes, dated 24 June 2002
	The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your recent parliamentary questions on the subject of appeals against all work tests and personal capability assessments. You asked:
	How many appeals against decisions made at all work tests and personal capability assessments were (i) heard and decided and (ii) decided in the appellants favour in each of the last 10 years (58756), and;
	What the average length of time was between the lodging of an appeal against an all work test and a personal capability assessment decision, and having the appeal heard in each of the last 10 years (58757).
	Figures are not available for the last 10 years as requested, but are available from 1998.
	The information is in the following table.
	
		The number of all work test/personal capability assessment appeals heard (in relation to current IS, IB and SDA case loads), found in favour of the appellant, and the average time taken between receipt at the Appeals Service and first hearing
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Income support case load 3,824,000 3,834,600 3,876,700 3,949,600 
			 Incapacity benefit case load 2,299,700 2,267,400 2,310,400 2,342,900 
			 Severe disablement allowance case load 371,600 370,100 367,500 362,300 
			 Number of appeals heard 56,910 53,580 37,935 30,880 
			 Number of appeals found in favour of the appellant 23,410 22,625 15,535 13,110 
			 Average waiting time, in weeks, between receipt at the Appeals Service and first hearing 22.7 17.2 11.7 12.1 
		
	
	I hope this is helpful.

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed by his Department on (a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 May 2002.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Douglas Alexander) on 13 June 2002, Official Report, column 1402W.

Polygamous Spouses

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what circumstances benefits can be paid to polygamous spouses; and what benefits can be paid to polygamous spouses.

Malcolm Wicks: Income-related benefits (income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit) are payable to people in polygamous marriages where the relationship has been solemnised by a marriage ceremony in a country where polygamous marriages are permitted, and where the general conditions of entitlement are met.
	The amount of benefit payable includes personal allowances for the male spouse and one partner at the appropriate couple rate and, for each other partner, the difference between the higher rate for a couple and the higher rate for a single person. In general there is no financial advantage to claiming for those in polygamous marriages. Having separate claims for a couple and for other members of the marriage would normally result in more benefit being paid. Benefit entitlement for any additional partners is restricted to an allowance which is less than the rate for single people.
	In addition, any member of a polygamous marriage can claim a contributory or non-contributory social security benefit in his or her own right where he or she satisfies the relevant conditions of entitlement.

Pensioner Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the costs of the introduction of pensioner credit in 2003 and in each of the subsequent five years.

Ian McCartney: I refer my right hon. Friend to table A.2 (page 156) of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy report and Financial Statement and Budget report April 2002 (HC 592).

Winter Fuel Allowance

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which assessment he has made of the cost of introducing a winter fuel allowance, equivalent to that received by pensioners, for those in receipt of disability benefits.

Ian McCartney: The cost of extending the winter fuel payment scheme in this way would be approximately 510 million each year.
	Notes:
	1. Based on the 200001 Family Resources Survey and data taken from DWP administrative records for November 2001.
	2. Assumes that the payment is made to people in receipt of incapacity benefit, disability living allowance, severe disablement allowance or to claimants receiving incapacity benefit credits.

Occupational Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his recently published latest estimates of occupational pension receipt among the newly retired.

Ian McCartney: The Pensioners' Income Series publication contains guidance about how to interpret the information contained within it. In particular, it warns that great care should be taken when interpreting changes in income over short periods of time since random sampling fluctuations mean that estimates should be regarded as broad indications of trends only.
	Table 12 of the Pensioners' Incomes Series 200001 contains estimates of the proportion of pensioner units with occupational pension income and the average amount for those in receipt from 199495 to 200001. It shows that 59 per cent. of recently retired pensioner units received income from occupational pensions in 200001, lower than the corresponding estimate for 19992000 of 64 per cent. Estimates for both singles and couples were lower in 200001 than in 19992000, but the drop was greatest for singles from 51 per cent. in 19992000 to 44 per cent. in 200001.
	There are various possible explanations for these changes, including the possibility that they are due to random sampling fluctuation. More years of FRS data would be needed to confirm whether this is the case.
	The Pensioners' Income Series publication warns that the time series of results based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS) 199495 to 200001 is too short to provide an accurate picture of detailed changes in pensioners' incomes over time. It also warns that estimates of proportions in receipt of occupational pension income should be treated with caution because they may be subject to under-reporting by respondents to the FRS.

Occupational Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide a breakdown by gender of his latest estimates of occupational pension receipt among the newly retired.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 21 June 2002
	The information required can only be supplied for Single Pensioners. As published in the Pensioners' Incomes Series publication, estimates for pensioner couples cannot be split by gender, as the extent of income sharing within the pensioner units is not known.
	Information for All Single Pensioners and for Single Male Pensioners and Single Female Pensioners is in the table.
	
		The proportion of recently retired pensioners with occupational pension income and the average amounts for those in receipt, -- 199405 to 200001
		
			   199495 199798 199899 19992000 200001 
		
		
			 Proportions in receipt of occupational pension income  
			 All single pensioners 51 51 52 51 44 
			 Single male pensioners 57 54 59 56 52 
			 Single female pensioners 48 50 48 48 39 
			 Average amount of occupational pension income for those in receipt (pw)  
			 Mean amounts  
			 All single pensioners 88 93 93 97 95 
			 Single male pensioners 104 107 103 108 115 
			 Single female pensioners 77 83 86 89 79 
			 Median amounts  
			 All single pensioners 55 63 58 62 57 
			 Single male pensioners 62 66 65 66 81 
			 Single female pensioners 49 57 52 58 47 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Estimates of the percentage of pensioner units in receipt of occupational pension income are based on respondents' own assessment and may be subject to under reporting.
	2. Recently retired single pensioners are defined as single women aged 6064 or men aged 6569.

Medway Unitary Authority

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will publish the inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of Medway Unitary Authority.

Malcolm Wicks: The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's (BFI) report on Medway Unitary Authority was published today and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
	Inspectors found that the council's previous good performance had been adversely affected by a number of factors including the move of staff to a central location, the loss of staff to a neighbouring authority and the introduction of a new IT system. This has led to a backlog of work. The council recognised these shortfalls and put in place proposals to tackle the backlog and address many of the other problems.
	The report notes that the council needed to implement its stated aim to increase awareness of housing benefits. The council had run no take-up campaigns since 1999.
	Inspectors found that most staff applied a high standard of scrutiny to claims, but limited management checking removed any means of identifying inconsistency and training needs.
	There was a high level of accuracy in classifying overpayments but some improvements were needed in overpayment recovery.
	Medway's fraud investigations unit is experienced and some good quality investigation work had been done.
	Medway administered some 51 million in housing benefits in 200001.
	The report makes recommendations to help the council address weaknesses and to improve the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit, as well as counter fraud activities.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the findings and recommendations of the BFI.

TREASURY

Performance Targets

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets he has accepted through public service agreements with (a) the Isle of Wight council, (b) Lewisham council and (c) Staffordshire county council; and what steps he takes to monitor those targets or audit the quality of information delivered to him as to their performance against those targets.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	A copy of the Local Public Service Agreement with the London borough of Lewisham is in the Library. We are currently finalising an agreement with Staffordshire county council. Negotiation of an agreement with the Isle of Wight council is scheduled to begin on 1 July 2002.
	The targets relate to performance at the end of the period of the agreement; agreements normally run for around three years. An authority earns a reward grant for the achievement of its targets, and will provide information to enable the performance on which the grant is based to be verified.

Taxation

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the percentage change in income per income decile after tax as a consequence of changes to direct and indirect taxation from 199899 to 200001.

Paul Boateng: The table shows the estimated percentage impact on the net income of UK households of direct and indirect tax and benefit changes introduced over the last Parliament and taking effect by 200102.
	
		
			 Net income decile Percentage change in net income 
		
		
			 Bottom +11 
			 2 +9 
			 3 +7 
			 4 +4 
			 5 +3 
			 6 +2 
			 7 +2 
			 8 +1 
			 9 +1 
			 Top 0 
		
	
	Note:
	The estimates are based on Family Expenditure Survey data with incomes and expenditure projected forward to 200102. The decile groups are of all households ranked by net income before housing costs and equivalised using the McClements scale.

Bank of England

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he plans to announce the appointment of the next Deputy Governor of the Bank of England with responsibility for financial stability.

Ruth Kelly: The term of office of Mr. David Clementi, the Deputy Governor for Financial Stability, runs until 31 August 2002. Mr. Clementi is not seeking reappointment. His successor will be announced in due course.

Fuel Duty

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of fuel duty changes since May 1997 on the tax burden on families in the lowest income quintile; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Changes to fuel duties since May 1997 have cost families with children in the lowest income quintile around 30 a year on average in real terms. Personal tax and benefit changes introduced since 1997 have benefited families with children in the lowest income quintile by 2,400 a year on average in real terms.

Capital Modernisation Fund

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the projects funded in the first three rounds of the Capital Modernisation Fund; what funding each project has received to date; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Table 1.12 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 200102 (CM5101) lists all allocations made in the first three rounds of the Capital Modernisation Fund which had been announced at that date. Details of projects announced since then have been placed on the Treasury's public website.

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 12 April 2002, Official Report, column 336W, on the Budget, what the levels of housing benefit and council tax benefit take-up were in 199798; what the caseload numbers for those receiving family credit were in 199798; what the levels of housing benefit and council tax benefit take-up were in 19992000; what the projected caseload numbers of those receiving WFTC or DPTC are for 200203; and what the projected caseload numbers are for those receiving the new tax credits in 200304.

Dawn Primarolo: There were some 4.77 million recipients of housing benefit in the UK in May 1997. This had fallen to 4.44 million by May 1999.
	There were some 5.5 million recipients of council tax benefit in Great Britain in May 1997. This had fallen to 5.17 million by May 1999.
	There were around 780,000 family credit recipients in the UK in May 1997.
	The UK caseload of recipients receiving WFTC or DPTC as at November 2001 was 1.325 million.
	The projected UK caseload of recipients of the child or working tax credits is about 6 million in 200304.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Electoral Fraud

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action will be taken by the Northern Ireland Office in conjunction with the Electoral Office headquarters to inform the electorate in relation to the requirements of the Electoral Fraud (NI) Act 2002; and when this information campaign will commence.

Des Browne: The Electoral Commission, which assumed responsibility for voter education and awareness for the whole of the UK on 1 July 2001, in consultation with the Northern Ireland Office and the Electoral Office, is planning a public awareness campaign in Northern Ireland. It will focus on the changes brought about by the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002, in particular voter registration and identification, and will begin in the autumn.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Postal Voting

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the pilot studies on postal voting at local government elections.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	The Electoral Commission is evaluating the local authority pilot schemes that ran all postal ballots in the May 2002 local and mayoral elections and will provide a detailed assessment of the impact of each scheme to the Deputy Prime Minister by 2 August 2002.

Departmental Grants

Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which organisations which were in receipt of a grant in 199798 no longer are; what the annual saving is; which organisations which were not in receipt of a grant in 199798 now are; and what the annual cost is.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng), on 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 136W.
	Tables 1 and 2 detail those organisations now in receipt of grants that were not in 199798.
	Table 3 details those organisations that were in receipt of a grant in 199798 that are not now.
	The saving from discontinued grants is 247,608.
	The cost of new grants totals 1,303,000.
	
		Marriage and relationship support (MARS) grant programme 200203 -- Core funding(9)
		
			  Funding allocated 
		
		
			 Parentline Plus 62,000 
			 2 as 1 150,000 
			 Totnes Family Partnership 58,000 
			 Somerset Family Partnership 50,000 
			 Family Matters York 50,000 
			 Prisoners Families and Friends Service 12,000 
			 The Lesbian and Gay Foundation 48,000 
			 Muslim Women's Helpline 20,000 
			 The Salvation Army 40,000 
			 Aquila Care Trust 88,000 
			 Project for Advocacy, Counselling and Education 46,000 
			 Basic for Life 34,000 
			 The Cogwheel Trust 4,000 
			 Poole Community Family Trust 50,000 
			 CFP Guildford 40,000 
			 Bristol Community Family Trust 50,000 
			  
			  802,000 
		
	
	(9) Core grant is paid in respect of administration costs of the recipient organisation.
	
		Marriage and relationship support grant programme 200203 -- Programme funding(10)
		
			
		
		
			 University of Exeter, School of Psychology Money management and marital commitment in new couples: An evaluation of the efficacy of the FOCCUS Inventory 43,000 
			 Care for the Family Asian family matters 19,000 
			 2 as 1 Development and adaptation of Relate training material 66,000 
			 The Minster Centre Aracas project (domestic violence) 72,000 
			 2 as 1 Partnership project (Relate)Generic awareness campaign to promote MARS 120,000 
			 Sussex Family Mediation Service One Stop Shop 26,000 
			 The Church of England Marriage Preparation and Support in the south-east 54,000 
			 Brook in Birmingham Counselling for young couples 39,000 
			 The Richmond Centre Videos are Valuable 38,000 
			 Talking Matters Infrastructure for Marriage Preparation in the Orthodox Jewish Community 24,000 
			 Total  501,000 
		
	
	(10) Programme grant is paid in respect of defined project costs of the recipient organisation.
	
		Marriage and relationship support discontinued grants 199798
		
			   
		
		
			 Marriage Resource 126,900 
			 Marriage ResourceGlossop 11,228 
			 African Caribbean Family Mediation Service 89,900 
			 Lighthouse Christian Care 29,580 
			  
			 Total 247,608

Staff Training

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much the Department has spent on staff training and development in each of the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: The table details the amounts spent on staff training and development for each of the last five years by LCD.
	
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 199798 2,253,686 
			 199899 3,166,424 
			 19992000 3,071,804 
			 200001 3,818,095 
			 200102(11) 3,154,397 
		
	
	(11) Provisional
	The Department's commitment to the training and development of its staff is demonstrated through our successful achievement of the Investors in People status. LCD received accreditation in 2000 and the Court Service was re-accredited in 2001.
	Training is delivered via a range of methods, including job shadowing and mentoring. Formal development activities include professional training, NVQs and the Princes Trust Volunteer Scheme.

Performance Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  what has been the (a) cost and (b) saving from the pursuit of the Department's Public Service Agreement targets in each year since they were introduced;
	(2)  what the (a) cost and (b) saving has been from the Department's pursuit of Service Delivery Agreement targets in each year since they were introduced.

Yvette Cooper: The Department's Public Service Agreement sets out the key outcomes it is committed to deliver with the resources provided, and its Service Delivery Agreement sets out the key steps towards delivery of those targets. Every year the Department publishes performance against its targetsincluding on value for moneyand the resources it has used, in its Departmental Report.

Magistrates Courts Committees

John Greenway: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to reform magistrates courts committees.

Yvette Cooper: Sir Robin Auld's Review of the Criminal Courts in England and Wales makes wide- ranging recommendations, including several concerning magistrates courts committees. The period for comment closed on 31 January. The Government are now considering the recommendations in detail, taking account of the comments received. The Government hope to announce their conclusions by way of a White Paper before the summer recess.

Freedom of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the membership of the Advisory Group dealing with the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Yvette Cooper: The Lord Chancellor announced the formation of the Advisory Group on Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in his statutory report to Parliament in November 2001. Mrs. Elizabeth France, the Information Commissioner, and myself jointly chair the group. The members of the group are:
	Mr. James Leslie MLA: Northern Ireland Executive
	Mr. Denis Haughey MLA: Northern Ireland Executive
	Ms Alison Sutherland: Local Government Association
	Mr. Tim Ricketts: National Association of Local Councils
	Deputy Chief Constable Mr. Ian Readhead: Association of Chief Police Officers
	Dr. Michael Wilks: British Medical Association
	Ms Christine Miles: NHS Confederation
	Mr. Michael Malone-Lee: Universities UK
	Ms Jane Phillips: National Association of Governors and Managers
	Ms Santha Rasaiah: Newspaper Society
	Mr. Jonathan Baume: First Division Association
	Mr. Maurice Frankel: Director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information
	Mrs. Christine Gifford: former Metropolitan police civil servant
	Professor Robert Hazell: Director of the Constitution Unit, University College London
	Dr. Dilys Jones: former consultant psychiatrist, Department of Health
	Mr. David Henke: The Guardian
	Mr. David Reynolds, Director of Investigations at the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
	Ms Sarah Tyacke, Keeper of the Public Records
	Mr. Alan Cogbill: Director, Civil Justice and Legal Services, Lord Chancellor's Department
	Mr. Lee Hughes, Head of the Freedom of Information and Data Protection Division, Lord Chancellor's Department
	Mr. Graham Smith, Deputy Information Commissioner.
	The Secretariat is provided by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection Division in the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Freedom of Information

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will set out the timetable for the (a) repeal and (b) amendment under section 75 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 of the primary and secondary legislation which contains provisions prohibiting the disclosure of information.

Yvette Cooper: My predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills), made a statement on 30 April 2002, Official Report, columns 699700, announcing the publication of an interim report detailing the progress made so far in reviewing legislation prohibiting the disclosure of information. A further report is being prepared and will be published at the time of the Lord Chancellor's annual report in November on implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Freedom of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the Ministers with responsibility for implementing freedom of information policies.

Yvette Cooper: Policy responsibility for the Freedom of Information Act rests with the Lord Chancellor and myself. The Lord Chancellor chairs the Cabinet Ministerial Sub-Committee on Freedom of Information and its members are responsible for implementation of the Act in their Departments. The sub-committee's terms of reference are
	To consider policy and other issues arising from the Government's decision to legislate on freedom of information and from legislation on data protection; to oversee implementation of the relevant legislation; and to report as necessary to the Committee on Constitutional Reform Policy.
	The membership of the committee in the light of the recent Cabinet reshuffle will be confirmed shortly.

Crown Court (Buckinghamshire)

David Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, which locations she is considering for the site of future Crown court buildings in Buckinghamshire.

Yvette Cooper: The Court Service is currently considering both Aylesbury and Milton Keynes as potential locations for a new Crown court in Buckinghamshire.

Judges

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many representations the Lord Chancellor has received concerning the (a) conduct of judges and (b) operation of the Legal Services Commission since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: (a) The principle of judicial independence means that it is not open to the Lord Chancellor or his Department to entertain complaints about judicial decisions. However, as Head of the Judiciary, the Lord Chancellor does consider complaints about the personal conduct of individual judges and other judicial office holders and is able to reprimand or rebuke judges who have behaved inappropriately. In the most extreme cases the Lord Chancellor, with the consent of the Lord Chief Justice, can remove a judge below the level of the High Court from office.
	No figures for complaints about judges' conduct are available for the period before August 1998, when the Lord Chancellor established a team of officials dedicated to make thorough inquiries on his behalf into all complaints about judicial conduct. Between August 1998 and 31 May 2002, the Lord Chancellor received 1,351 complaints which appeared to relate to judges' personal conduct. In 1,089 cases the complainant agreed that the Lord Chancellor could investigate the complaint by asking the judge for his or her comments. The Lord Chancellor then considered the complaint and the response, and informed the complainant of the judge's comments and his own conclusion. The great majority of these complaints were from disappointed litigants and were found to be without foundation. However, on 23 occasions, the Lord Chancellor thought it appropriate to rebuke or reprimand the judge concerned in relation to conduct.
	(b) The Legal Services Commission was established by the Access to Justice Act 1999, and came into being on 1 April 2000 to replace the Legal Aid Board. Since that date 67 representations have been received (although some of these will relate to the old Legal Aid Board). Of these, 17 were from politicians and 50 from the public.
	Overall figures on representations about the two bodies received by the Lord Chancellor's Department are unavailable for 1997. Since 1 January 1998, the Department has received 238 separate representations, relating to either the Legal Aid Board or the Legal Services Commission. Of these, 155 have come from members of the public, with the remaining 83 from MPs and peers.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Coroners

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time coroners have been met by members of the review team examining the future of the coroner system as part of their work; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the shire counties visited by members of the review into the coroner system as part of their work;
	(3)  when he intends to publish the findings of the review of the coroner system; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Responsibility for the review team's consultation and fact-finding arrangements lies with the Chair of the review, Tom Luce. I have accordingly asked him to write to the hon. Member direct about the visits which the review team has made and the coroners they have met.
	Mr. Luce has recently assessed that the work involved in conducting the review will require a little more time than originally agreed, but I now expect to receive the findings by April 2003 and to publish them shortly thereafter.

Asylum Seekers

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive in respect of providing for the education of the children of asylum seekers in Scotland.

Beverley Hughes: My officials and the Scottish Executive continue to discuss the provision of education for the children of asylum seekers in Accommodation centres proposed for Scotland.

Asylum Seekers

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which detention facilities in which asylum seekers are detained are defined as (a) short-term and (b) long-term; and what is the average length of time he estimates asylum seekers will be held in (i) short-term and (ii) long-term detention

Beverley Hughes: There are short-term holding facilities at Manchester, Dover, Cheriton, Felixstowe and Harwich. Detainees are held at these centres for no longer than five days, or no longer than seven days in cases where removal directions have been set.
	The immigration removal centres at Campsfield House, Harmondsworth, Tinsley House, Dungavel House, Dover, Haslar, Lindholme and Yarl's Wood (which is closed at present) may be used to hold detainees for whatever period is necessary for the purpose for which detention was authorised. This period will vary from case to case.
	In addition, Oakington Reception Centre is used to detain persons whose asylum claim is assessed to be straightforward and capable of being decided quickly. The fast-track asylum process at Oakington typically takes between seven to 10 days.

Asylum Seekers

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is regarding (a) when and (b) for how long asylum seekers should be detained.

Beverley Hughes: Our policy regarding the use of detention was set out in the 1998 White Paper Fairer, Faster, FirmerA Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum and the recent White Paper Secure Borders, Safe Haven.
	Detention will usually be appropriate to effect removal; initially to establish a person's identity or basis of claim; or where there is reasonable belief that a person will fail to comply with the conditions attached to the grant of temporary admission or release. In addition, persons whose asylum claims appear straightforward and capable of being decided quickly may be detained as part of the fast-track asylum process at Oakington Reception Centre.
	Detention under the Immigration Act 1971 is not time limited. However, it is used sparingly and is kept to the minimum duration necessary for the purposes for which it was authorised.

Asylum Seekers

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons asylum seekers may be moved from one place to another within the detention estate.

Beverley Hughes: The transfer of detainees between removal centres, for whatever reason, is kept to a minimum. However, a transfer may occur for reasons of security; for health care reasons, as not all centres have in-patient facilities; and, on occasion, for domestic or compassionate reasons, or to enable a detainee to be more easily visited by a representative. Transfers may also be arranged for operational reasons as a stage towards removal from the United Kingdom, or to create vacancies in a particular centre.

Asylum Seekers

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether local grant claims for supporting adult and family asylum seekers for the period 1 April 1999 to 5 December 1999 have been met.

David Blunkett: I have laid before Parliament today a Special Grant Report which sets out the arrangements for reimbursing local authorities in England for amounts outstanding in respect of claims for supporting asylum-seeking adults and families for the period 1 April 1999 to 5 December 1999.

Asylum Seekers

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were accepted as refugees from (a) the Czech Republic, (b) Slovakia, (c) Bulgaria and (d) Romania in 2001.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is given in the table. These statistics relate to initial decisions only and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	
		Initial decisions(12) made on applications for asylum in the UK, excluding dependants, 2001
		
			  Czech Republic Slovakia Bulgaria Romania 
		
		
			 Total initial decisions made 885 85 145 2,125 
			 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum  (13) (13) (13) 
			 Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave 5 (13) 15 70 
			 Refused asylum and exceptional leave 850 80 130 2,055 
		
	
	(12) The information relates to initial decisions made in 2001, which in some cases will relate to applications received in previous years. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five and are provisional.
	(13) Equals one or two
	Information on initial decisions is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the period up to June 2002, and will be available from 30 August 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ immigration1.html

Asylum Seekers

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what criteria the National Asylum Support Service uses to assess the (a) existence and (b) suitability of accommodation for those leaving induction centres;
	(2)  what proportion of those who stayed in the Home Office induction centres in the last 12 months now reside in London.

Beverley Hughes: The first induction centre opened in Dover on 21 January 2002. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) does not keep separate figures showing the destination of those passing through the induction centres.
	Applications for support from those in the induction centre are considered in the same way as any other. Only asylum seekers who request that accommodation be provided as part of an application for support are liable to be dispersed. Each application is considered on its individual merits. It is open to the asylum seeker to put forward reasons why they should either not be dispersed or should be sent to a particular area. Generally speaking NASS does not provide accommodation in London. Normally the only exceptions are where the asylum seeker has been accepted for treatment by the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture or where the asylum seeker is transferring to the NASS system of support and has school age children who have been at school for over one year.

Asylum Seekers

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reimburse local authorities for their expenditure on supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

David Blunkett: I have laid before Parliament today a Special Grant Report which sets out the arrangements for reimbursing local authorities in England for the costs of supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children as a result of their duties under the Children Act 1989.
	The Special Grant Report explains the areas of expenditure which will be eligible for the grant and the time scales for local authorities to make their claims.

Asylum Seekers

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) the cost is of building accommodation centres at each of the three sites identified, (b) the cost is of providing facilities at those centres as set out in Clause 25 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill and (c) use is planned for the accommodation centres at the end of the experimental period if the evaluation of them deems them unsuitable.

Beverley Hughes: We have not yet tendered for the provision of accommodation centres.
	We expect the trial centres to be successful. If in the light of the evaluation of the trial there is a need to modify any aspect of the centres, we will address that at the time.

Asylum Seekers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has collated on the use of accommodation centres for asylum seekers in other EU countries on (a) decision times, (b) removal rates and (c) the welfare of applicants.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office has looked at the use of accommodation centres for asylum seekers during visits to Belgium, Denmark and Sweden. As far as we are aware, none of these countries has systematically evaluated the use of accommodation centres for asylum seekers or carried out any comparison of the impact of accommodation centres on decision times and removal rates. There has been some analysis of the impact of accommodation centres on the welfare of applicants. Published sources include: Dutch Refugee Council (1997) Asylum seekersdon't let them just sit and wait: six months in a centre is the limit; Danish Red Cross leaflet 2001 Danish Red Cross and the Asylum Work; Willigen, L. van and Mooren, G.T.M. (et al) (1993) Study on the difficulties in the reception and care of children of refugees and asylum seekers in the Netherlands, in Willigen, L. van (ed) Health Hazards of Organised Violence in Children, Pharos Foundation for Refugee Health Care, London.
	In January 2002, the Home Office commissioned research to examine the reception policies and practice of four European countries (Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany). This includes an analysis of the impact of accommodation centres on: (1) application rates; (2) the speed of the determination process; (3) the facilitation of return and removals; and (4) integration.

Prison Service (Meat Supplies)

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what 
	(1)  proportion of meat and meat products purchased by HM Prison Service is derived from (a) the United Kingdom, (b) other EU countries and (c) countries outside the EU;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the sourcing of meat and meat products for consumption in UK prisons;
	(3)  what steps his Department has taken to increase the proportion of meat and meat products sourced from UK producers by HM Prison Service; what assessment he has made of the benefits to UK prisons of the purchase of UK produced meat; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 17 June 2002
	Her Majesty's Prison Service for England and Wales procures meat and meat products using contracts awarded in accordance with European Union (EU) procurement regulations and on a best value for money basis which takes account of quality of product, cost and availability. The EU regulations are designed to support fair and open competition allowing British suppliers to compete for business with other members. British suppliers have been awarded contracts under this mechanism and have access to a global market as part of their supply chain to ensure availability and the cost-effectiveness of the product at all times.
	Data available from existing contracted suppliers show the following information:
	64 per cent. of meat and meat products purchased by HM Prison Service is from the United Kingdom;
	17 per cent. is derived from other EU countries; and
	19 per cent. is derived from countries outside the EU.
	No steps have been taken by the Department to increase the proportion of meat and meat products sourced from United Kingdom (UK) producers by HM Prison Service and no direct assessments have been made regarding possible benefits or disadvantages to prisons in England and Wales from the purchase of UK produced meat. The Service has no plans to change the current situation as any move to discriminate in favour of UK producers would be deemed to be in contravention of the EU supplies directive, 93/96/EC Purchase of Goods, by disadvantaging other member states.
	Information about the procurement of meat and meat products for prisoners in Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Office respectively.

Victim Support

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance indicators are utilised to describe the efficiency and effectiveness of Victim Support; when the indicators were established; and if they have been reviewed.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 June 2002
	A range of means are used to measure the effectiveness of Victim Support including two performance indicators. The first, which was established under the Victim's Charter in 1996, is that Victim Support should aim to contact victims within four working days of the necessary details being passed to them by the police. The second, established in 19992000, was that Victim Support should, with Home Office funding, set up a witness support service in all magistrates courts by April 2002. This was substantially achieved by the due date.
	The National Audit Office (NAO) is currently looking at the work of Victim Support and the Home Office's oversight of its substantial annual grant to the organisation. The NAO's findings will be published and considered in due course.

Victim Support

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the terms of reference and membership are of the body which replaces the Victims Steering Group; and who has been working on the terms of reference for the group.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 June 2002
	The Victims Steering Group was formally disbanded in November 2001, as it was recognised that the new services for victims in recent years, together with planned developments, required a more proactive, delivery- focused national group.
	A new draft national strategy for victims and witnesses has been developed which the Government are planning to publish later in the year. Once the national strategy has been agreed, we will give consideration to the membership and terms of reference of the group or committee which is required to support, evaluate and review it.
	To complement the group, and other existing official groups or ministerial committees, we also plan to establish a Victims Advisory Panel. The panel will have the opportunity to comment on a range of policy developments and on service delivery issues, and we are currently considering how best to set it up.

Victim Support

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if officers interviewing convicted criminals in prison on the basis that the criminal is a victim of a crime give prisoners the opportunity to be contacted by Victim Support; and how it is ensured that each prisoner receives a Victims of Crime leaflet.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 June 2002
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) to her question on 27 February 2002, Official Report, column 1388W.
	It is for individual officers to determine the most appropriate course of action in the particular circumstances of the case.

Victim Support

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the review of the Victims Charter will be completed; who and what agencies have been involved in the review; and what recent developments have been included in the review.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 June 2002
	The following Departments, organisations and victims groups have been directly involved in the review of the Victims Charter:
	Home Office Justice and Victims Unit
	Home Office National Probation Directorate
	Home Office Research and Statistics Unit
	Association of Chief Police Officers
	Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation
	Prison Service
	The Court Service
	Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
	Criminal Cases Review Commission
	Crown Prosecution Service
	Lord Chancellor's Department
	Department of Health
	Department of Work and Pensions
	Department of Transport
	Department of Local Government and the Regions
	Her Majesty's Treasury
	Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
	Justices' Clerk's Society
	Magistrates' Association
	Judiciary
	Victim Support
	Campaign Against Drink Driving
	Brake
	RoadPeace
	Headway.
	The work on the new benefits for victimsa bill of rights, a victims commissioner, a new complaints procedure, and new services for particular victimsis well advanced, and the Government expect to make an announcement later this year. Those leading and involved in the review have taken into account all new developments which impact on victims, including lessons to be learned from individual cases and important initiatives such as the street crime initiative.

Victim Support

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government have taken in response to the responses from individuals in relation to the review of the Victims Charter.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 June 2002
	Individuals who responded to the consultation exercise on the Review of the Victims Charter received a letter of acknowledgement and were advised on how the work would be taken forward. A summary of the responses to the consultation process was placed in the Library and published on the Home Office website in July 2001.
	The Victims Charter Review Implementation Group was set up in October 2001 to take forward the work on the Review of the Victims Charter and has now met on three occasions. The group's work, and that of its subsidiary groups working on the Victims Ombudsman/ Commissioner and the inclusion of the victims of road traffic incidents within the scope of the revised Victims Charter, is progressing well. The views expressed by individuals during the public consultation process have been taken into account by all of these groups.

Overstayers

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what percentage of visitors from overseas entering the UK in each of the past five years by visa became overstayers;
	(2)  what proportion of visitors from Jamaica in each of the last five years to the United Kingdom became overstayers.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not available.

Extradition

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women have been extradited from the UK in each of the last three years; and to which countries they were extradited.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			   Numbers surrendered  
			 Year Men Women 
		
		
			 1999 33 4 
			 2000 43 4 
			 2001 52 3 
		
	
	The countries to which those 139 fugitives were surrendered are as follows:
	
		
			 Country Fugitives 
		
		
			 Australia 1 
			 Belgium 8 
			 Canada 3 
			 Cyprus 3 
			 Czech Republic 5 
			 Denmark 2 
			 Finland 3 
			 France 5 
			 Germany 25 
			 Greece 1 
			 Hong Kong 2 
			 India 1 
			 Italy 8 
			 Lithuania 1 
			 Luxembourg 1 
			 Netherlands 14 
			 Norway 3 
			 Portugal 6 
			 South Africa 1 
			 Spain 4 
			 Sweden 5 
			 Switzerland 13 
			 Uganda 1 
			 United States of America 23

Prison Farms

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the proposed closure of prison farms following the review of the future of the Farms and Gardens Estate.

Hilary Benn: Proposals on the future of prison farms are to be put to Ministers for consideration shortly.

Ethnic Minorities

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's estimate is of the size of the Sikh community in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) England and Wales.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 21 June 2002
	At present, there are no accurate data available on the size of the Sikh community in either the United Kingdom or England and Wales. Current estimates for the United Kingdom Sikh population range from 350,000 to 500,000.
	Next February we hope to have a clearer picture. Demographic data about Sikhs in the United Kingdomand specifically England and Waleswill be available for the first time from the results of the religious identity question in the 2001 Census.
	However, the Labour Force Survey is also introducing a question on religion this spring. The results will be evaluated and, if possible, released towards the end of the year.

Ethnic Minorities

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sikhs are employed in his Department.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 21 June 2002
	The Home Office keeps ethnicity data on its employees using the 2001 Census categories of ethnic groups. Information is not currently kept on the religious beliefs or affiliations of employees.

Immigration

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken to process applications for indefinite leave to remain submitted by people admitted for settlement as the fianc(e)s of British citizens was in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 24 June 2002
	Information on decision times for individual types of general immigration applications is not available. Our aim is to decide straightforward applications within three weeks and this was achieved during the first half of 2001. Due to an exceptionally large increase in the number of immigration cases in the latter part of the year the turnaround time increased. This has now been reduced to four weeks and we are working to return performance to three weeks shortly.
	Information on initial decisions is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the period up to June 2002, and will be available from 30 August 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ immigration1.html.

Immigration

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he changed the advice on his Department's website that applications by people admitted as fiance()s for indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom, would be dealt with in six weeks; what the reasons were for that change; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 24 June 2002
	The information on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website reflects the current average length of time between the receipt of all postal immigration applications in Croydon and their initial consideration. In early March the average length of time quoted on the website was changed to six weeks. This was changed to five weeks at the beginning of May and to four weeks at the beginning of June. These changes reflect the improvement in initial processing times over recent months towards the target of three weeks.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what percentage of letters received by the IND in 2000 went unanswered;
	(2)  what the average response time was for letters sent by (a) hon. Members and (b) others to the IND in the last 12 months;
	(3)  for what reason it is not the policy of the IND to acknowledge all correspondence; what percentage of written communications are acknowledged; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 25 June 2002
	Information on all correspondence received by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) in 2000, and on the average length of time taken for officials to respond to hon. Members' correspondence over the last 12 months is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. IND received over one million pieces of correspondence during 200102, and systems are not yet in place to identify whether responses were given to all categories of correspondence we have seen.
	We are however now developing measures to record and track all categories of public correspondence, including MP's correspondence. The Home Office Customer Communication Foundation project was suspended last November and has now been replaced by a short term/tactical Correspondence Tracking System (CTS) project to address the handling of correspondence and the provision of accurate management information. The project is due to begin on 1 July 2000 and will be rolled out for operational use during the autumn. IND's ministerial and treat official correspondence are both included in the intended scope of the project.
	The Home Office's service delivery agreement for 200104, which commits all directorates, including the IND to replying to 95 per cent. of public correspondence within 20 days by the end of 200102, does not require that such correspondence also be acknowledged. However, it is IND's policy to acknowledge the receipt of all immigration, asylum, asylum support and citizenship applications either by the sending of a letter or the issue of a form. Other casework-related correspondence is not routinely acknowledged at present although we are considering the feasibility of acknowledging certain categories, when backlogs are reduced to a frictional level.

Hunting-related Offences

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences against (a) hunt personnel, supporters or their property and (b) opponents of hunting or their property (i) were reported, (ii) were prosecuted and (iii) led to convictions in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 24 June 2002
	The information requested is not available centrally.

Prevention of Terrorism

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the report on the operation in 2000 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 and the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1996.

David Blunkett: I am pleased to say that J. J. Rowe's report on the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Northern Ireland Emergency Provisions Act will be placed in the Library today.
	Permanent counter-terrorist legislation was enacted in the Terrorism Act 2000, which came into effect on 19 February 2001.

Temporary Staff

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to his Department was of employing staff in (a) London and (b) the south-east from employment agencies in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 16 May 2002
	Detailed breakdowns of costs of employment agency staff by region are not held centrally nor captured by the Department's accounting systems. Data are recorded under broad expenditure headings. Further detail could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department's policy is that staff from agencies may be employed to provide short-term cover for vacancies while permanent staff are recruited.
	The recorded expenditure on agency staff by the core Home Office is shown in the table:
	
		000 
		
			 Year Expenditure 
		
		
			 199798 298 
			 199899 466 
			 19992000 1,189 
			 200001 3,014 
			 200102 6,641 
		
	
	The increase since 1999 is mainly due to the expansion of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) in response to the increased numbers of asylum seekers. Agency staff were employed until long-term recruitment plans were implemented, enabling us to drive home the backlog and speed up the time taken for vital decisions.

Throckmorton

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to purchase residential properties at Throckmorton in the immediate vicinity of the site of the proposed asylum accommodation centre, where residents are attempting to sell their homes; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 20 May 2002
	We have no plans to purchase such properties.

Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by his Department on paying pensions to retired employees of his Department in 200102; if he will estimate the corresponding amounts to be spent in (a) five years' time, (b) 10 years' time, (c) 20 years' time and (d) 30 years' time; if he will estimate in each case the proportion of such liabilities which will arise from (i) unfunded pension schemes and (ii) pre-funded pension schemes; and in the case of pre-funded schemes, if he will estimate the value of the corresponding pre-funded funds in each of these years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 20 May 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Leslie), on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 563W.

Regional Organisation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regional organisation his Department has; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office operates through the Government offices for the regions, who carry out a number of functions at regional level such as the regional management of crime reduction and drug treatment programmes and liaison with local partnerships. A table setting out the structure of the Government office regions and the counties and unitary authorities in 1997 and 2002 is as follows.
	Other parts of the Department with specific operational responsibilities have their own regional organisational structures. Since April 2000, the Prison Service has operated an area manager structure that is based on the Government regions. Two regions are divided between two area managers: the south-east (one for Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and one for Kent, Surrey and Sussex) and east midlands north (Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, Derby and Nottingham) and south (Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, Leicester and Rutland). Previously area managers had been based in London. The National Probation Service regions mirror the Government office regions.
	Both the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) and the Immigration Service (IS) in Immigration and Nationality Department operate regional structures. NASS, which became fully operational in April 2000, has regional representatives in each Government region, and operates broadly within that regional structure, with some minor differences for local operational reasons.
	The Immigration Service operates at ports and airports across the United Kingdom and had, until 2002, an Immigration Service regional organisation with four regional districts: Scotland, Northern Ireland, North-west England and north Wales; North-east England, the east midlands and East Anglia and South-west England and mid and south Wales. London and the south-east came under Immigration Service South East. From 2002 the regional boundaries of the IS were realigned to more closely match the Government office regions. The present structure, managed by regional operations headquarters in Manchester, comprises:
	Scotland
	North-west England, Northern Ireland and North Wales
	North-east England (which includes Yorkshire and the Humber)
	Southern England
	West midlands
	Eastern (east midlands and East Anglia, including Lincolnshire)
	South-west England, mid and south Wales.
	London (including Heathrow and Gatwick) and Kent are managed by Immigration Service headquarters, Croydon.
	
		Regions, counties and unitaries in England
		
			 Region County authorities Unitary authorities 
		
		
			 East of England Bedfordshire Luton* 
			  Cambridgeshire Peterborough* 
			  Essex Southend-on-Sea* 
			  Hertfordshire Thurrock* 
			  Norfolk  
			  Suffolk  
			 East Midlands Derbyshire Derby* 
			  Leicestershire Leicester* 
			  Lincolnshire Nottingham* 
			  Northamptonshire Rutland* 
			  Nottinghamshire  
			 London  Barking and Dagenham 
			   Barnet 
			   Bexley 
			   Brent 
			   Bromley 
			   Camden 
			   Corporation of London 
			   Croydon 
			   Ealing 
			   Enfield 
			   Greenwich 
			   Hackney 
			   Hammersmith and Fulham 
			   Haringey 
			   Harrow 
			   Havering 
			   Hillingdon 
			   Hounslow 
			   Islington 
			   Kensington and Chelsea 
			   Kingston-upon-Thames 
			   Lambeth 
			   Lewisham 
			   Merton 
			   Newham 
			   Redbridge 
			   Richmond-upon-Thames 
			   Southwark 
			   Sutton 
			   Tower Hamlets 
			   Waltham Forest 
			   Wandsworth 
			   Westminster 
			 North East Durham Darlington* 
			  Northumberland Hartlepool 
			   Middlesbrough 
			   Redcar and Cleveland 
			   Stockton-on-Tees 
			   Metropolitan authorities in Tyne and Wear 
			   Gateshead 
			   Newcastle upon Tyne 
			   North Tyneside 
			   South Tyneside 
			   Sunderland 
			 North West Cumbria Blackburn with Darwen* 
			  Cheshire Blackpool* 
			  Lancashire Halton* 
			   Warrington* 
			   Metropolitan authorities in Greater Manchester 
			   Bury 
			   Bolton 
			   Manchester 
			   Oldham 
			   Rochdale 
			   Salford 
			   Stockport 
			   Tameside 
			   Trafford 
			   Wigan 
			   Metropolitan authorities in Merseyside 
			   Knowsley 
			   Liverpool 
			   Sefton 
			   St. Helens 
			   Wirral 
			 South East Buckinghamshire Brighton and Hove* 
			  East Sussex Isle of Wight (County) 
			  Hampshire Medway* 
			  Kent Milton Keynes* 
			  Oxfordshire Portsmouth* 
			  Surrey Southampton* 
			  West Sussex Unitary authorities in Berkshire: 
			   Bracknell Forest* 
			   Reading* 
			   Slough* 
			   West Berkshire* 
			   Windsor and Maidenhead* 
			   Wokingham* 
			 South West Cornwall Bath and North East Somerset 
			  Devon Bournemouth* 
			  Dorset Bristol 
			  Gloucestershire North Somerset 
			  Somerset Poole* 
			  Wiltshire Plymouth* 
			   South Gloucestershire 
			   Swindon* 
			   Torbay* 
			 West Midlands Shropshire Herefordshire* 
			  Staffordshire Stoke on Trent* 
			  Warwickshire Telford and Wrekin* 
			  Worcestershire  
			   Metropolitan authorities in West Midlands 
			   Birmingham 
			   Coventry 
			   Dudley 
			   Sandwell 
			   Solihull 
			   Walsall 
			   Wolverhampton 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber North Yorkshire East Riding of Yorkshire 
			   Kingston upon Hull 
			   North Lincolnshire 
			   North East Lincolnshire 
			   York 
			   Metropolitan authorities in South Yorkshire 
			   Barnsley 
			   Doncaster 
			   Rotherham 
			   Sheffield 
			   Metropolitan authorities in West Yorkshire 
			   Bradford 
			   Calderdale 
			   Kirklees 
			   Leeds 
			   Wakefield 
		
	
	Note:
	The unitary authorities that came into being as a result of the last local government review were established over three years. Those established on or after 1 April 1997 are asterisked.

Public Consultation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since June 2001, stating in each case the (a) number of respondents and (b) percentage of those specifically consulted who responded.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 10 June 2002
	The Home Office has undertaken 14 formal national public consultations since June 2001. The table lists consultations that started after 1 June 2001 and finished by the time of this response. The number of respondents in each case is noted but the percentage of those specifically consulted is not, as Departments are not routinely required to keep such records.
	The figure do not include internet hits which are an increasingly popular method of the public accessing Government consultations.
	
		Table of consultations
		
			 Subject of consultation exercise Start date Deadline for responses Number of responses(14) 
		
		
			 The Halliday Reportmaking punishments work 5 July 2001 31 October 2001 305 
			 Consultation Paper on the Review of Part 1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 30 July 2001 19 October 2001 46 
			 Use of x/gamma radiation scanners for the detection of clandestine illegal entrants 17 July 2001 27 August 2001 30 
			 Extension of civil penalty to eurotunnel 18 July 2001 29 August 2001 8 
			 Police and Criminal Evidence ActCode F 15 September 2001 31 October 2001 10 
			 Ratification of the driving disqualification convention 25 September 2001 18 December 2001 46 
			 Review of family visitor appeals 29 October 2001 14 December 2001 23 
			 Young people's substance misuse plans: supporting joint working at local level 21 November 2001 11 January 2002 440 
			 Consultation paper on revising the definition of categories of deaths of members of the public during or following police contact 14 December 2001 31 January 2002 14 
			 White Paper Policing a New Century: A Blueprint for Reform 5 December 2001 21 January 2002 1,200 
			 Police and Criminal Evidence ActCode A 11 March 2002 19 April 2002 45 
			 Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002, made under the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 4 January 2002 1 March 2002 26 
			 White Paper Secure Borders, Safe Haven: Integration with diversity in modern Britain 7 February 2002 21 March 2002 330 
			 Proposed changes to the misuse of drugs legislation 4 March 2002 17 May 2002 6 
		
	
	(14) The number of responses does not include hits on internet sites and may include both targeted and non-targeted respondents.

Departmental Grants

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations which were in receipt of a grant from him in 199798 no longer are; what the annual saving is; which organisations which were not in receipt of a grant in 199798 now are; and what the annual cost of each is.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Andrew Smith), on 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 136W.
	The aggregate figure for Government grants to private organisations and individuals was 28.6 billion in 200001 (the last year for which full outturn data are available) compared with 24.8 billion in 199798. This excludes social security payments classified as grants in the national accounts and includes lottery grants.
	Detailed analysis of departmental spending is contained in Departments' annual reports. Comprehensive data on individual grant recipients are not centrally available.

Non-UK Minors

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for the employment of children not of UK nationality and under the age of 16 years there were in the UK in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001, broken down by employment sector.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is not held centrally.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 22 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Mohamed Tavs (Niaz).

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 20 June 2002.

Videos (Prosecutions)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful prosecutions have been brought since 1997 against persons making videos involving the payment of people to injure themselves or others; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is not held centrally.

Racism (Prosecutions)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been undertaken against members of racist organisations in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Prisons

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the annual budget for prisons in England is designated for (a) education and (b) health care.

Hilary Benn: Figures are available for education expenditure in prisons in England and Wales only. In the financial year 200203, the sum of 70 million is planned to be spent on prisoner education, which is 3.1 per cent. of the overall departmental expenditure limit for the Prison Service.
	Information is not held centrally in a way that allows expenditure on health care to be readily identified. Research conducted for The Future Organisation of Prison Health Care (published 9 March 1999) estimated that establishments spent 85 million on prisoner health care in the financial year 199798.

Prisons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial contribution he plans to make to the reconstruction of sewers and drains on the Isle of Wight prison estate to facilitate the (a) adoption of roads, drains and lighting, (b) implementation of planning permissions for new housing on the estate and (c) construction of new prison places which have been announced.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service has been seeking outline planning permission for residential development on 11 sites adjacent to former prison housing estates. Outline planning permission has been received on seven sites to date and are expected on a further two later this year. Two amended applications may be re-submitted in due course.
	The future development schemes for the 11 sites include proposals to upgrade to adoptable standard a number of roads, street lights and drains leading to these sites, either by the Prison Service to facilitate a sale and maximise sale receipts, or by future owners under planning agreements.
	Consideration is also being given to upgrading other roads, storm water drainage and street lighting not directly accessing future development sites. It is hoped this will be to a standard suitable for maintenance adoption by the local highways authority. There are a number of legal and technical issues to resolve before formal proposals are made. Progress is also dependent on obtaining further outline planning consents, with sustainable planning conditions and the relative strength of the property market during a future land sales programme. To date no decision has been taken as to the extent of the Prison Service's contribution.
	It is not anticipated that it will be necessary to upgrade roads and drains within the estates as a result of the construction of the additional accommodation unit at Albany prison for which the Prison Service secured planning clearance in April 2002. In the event that it would be necessary to do so, this will be done in consultation with the Isle of Wight council. Should the Prison Service decide to proceed with a development on the site to the west of Parkhurst prison (for which it secured planning clearance for a 416-place prison in 1997), it would ensure that it was properly accessed and supplied with mains services.

Prisons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of cells in segregation units in each category B prison have forced ventilation; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service does not collect this information centrally and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All segregation cells in secure penal establishments are built to a category B type standard. After 1980 the standard provision for all segregation cells is mechanically ventilated or natural ventilation through grilles. Before 1980 segregation cells will have natural ventilation, unless they have since been refurbished with fixed windows and in these cases the provision will be mechanically ventilated systems or natural ventilation through grilles. Certain short term holding cells in segregation units within the prison estate have forced (mechanical) ventilation when this is required.

Prisons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sessions of purposeful activity were (a) delivered and (b) lost (i) per prisoner and (ii) in total in each category B prison in the most recent year for which information is available.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service does not collect centrally, the number of purposeful activity sessions delivered or lost in prisons. Average weekly purposeful activity hours achieved in each category B prison and in total during 200102 are given in the table.
	
		
			 Establishment Activity hours(15) 
		
		
			 Albany 24.2 
			 Blundeston 25.8 
			 Dovegate 27.5 
			 Garth 23.4 
			 Gartree 30.5 
			 Grendon 35.6 
			 Kingston 24.3 
			 Lowdham Grange 27.2 
			 Maidstone 21.0 
			 Parkhurst 19.1 
			 Rye Hill 29.4 
			 Swaleside 24.3 
			  
			 Total in all prisons 23.4 
		
	
	(15) Average weekly purposeful activity hours 200102.

Prisons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what way the EU Directive for shellfish waters is inhibiting the adoption of roads on the Isle of Wight prison estates.

Hilary Benn: The Government are not aware that the European Union (EU) Directive on shellfish waters is directly inhibiting the possible adoption of existing roads and drains within the former prison housing estates.
	There are currently seven development sites owned by the Prison Service, adjacent to these estates, with outline planning permission for residential developments. One of the standard planning conditions is to agree with the water company Southern Water proposals for the disposal and treatment of foul and storm water generated by future developments. Southern Water may be required to consider the relevance of the EU directive when negotiating with the Prison Service or future owners.

Prisons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many hours, on average, non-segregated prisoners were confined to their cells in each category B prison in the last year for which information is available.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service does not collect centrally information to distinguish time out of cell for specific categories of prisoner. The average time out of cell on weekdays for all prisoners in each category B prison during 200102 is given in the table. Comparative figures are not available for privately managed prisons.
	
		
			 Establishment Time out(16) 
		
		
			 Albany 9.3 
			 Blundeston 10.1 
			 Garth 10.0 
			 Gartree 10.1 
			 Grendon 15.4 
			 Kingston 11.8 
			 Lowdham Grange 12.4 
			 Maidstone 10.4 
			 Parkhurst 9.7 
			 Swaleside 9.7 
		
	
	(16) Average weekday time out of cell 200102all prisoners.

CABINET OFFICE

Waste Strategy

David Chaytor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what research contracts have been let by the Performance and Innovation Unit as part of its review of the Government's waste strategy; when these research contracts will be completed; and if he will put copies of the resulting research reports in the Library.

Douglas Alexander: The PIU waste study has commissioned some independent research to inform its work, mainly in the form of data gathering and specific contributions to the modelling of waste management options. A report on the role of new and emerging waste management technologies has also been commissioned, but contains commercially sensitive information and will remain confidential to the PIU. The intention is that the PIU waste study will be published.

Special Advisers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the pay bands are for special advisers; how many special advisers are in each pay band; how it is decided which pay band a special adviser is in; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Government have already announced the introduction from 8 June of a new special adviser pay system based on individual job evaluation. The paper deposited in the House Library by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20 July sets out how special advisers will be allocated to pay bands. Further details will be made available once the process of job evaluation is complete.

HEALTH

Teenage Pregnancy Report

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the Government response to the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy's annual report.

Hazel Blears: The Government's response will be published on 27 June. Copies will be placed in the Library.

Osteoporosis

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many osteoporotic hip fractures have been recorded in each health authority in the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what guidance he provides on osteoporosis risk assessment; and what percentage of fracture patients aged 50 years and over received an osteoporosis risk assessment in the last 12 months.

Jacqui Smith: Information about identifying those at risk of osteoporosis was included in the Department's strategy to prevent fractures caused by osteoporosis, which was issued to all health authorities in 1998. This was based on the Royal College of Physicians' clinical guidelines for strategies to prevent and treat osteoporosis.
	Osteoporosis has since been included in the Falls Standard of the national service framework for older people (NSF), which requires the local development of interventions and advice to prevent osteoporotic fracture. To support the NSF we have asked the National Institute of Clinical Excellence to develop clinical guidelines for the prevention, treatment and assessment of osteoporosis.
	Information on the percentage of fracture patients who have received an osteoporosis risk assessment is not available centrally.
	The numbers of finished consultant episodes where hip fractures were recorded in national health service hospitals in England in the last five years are shown in the table. Hip fractures are invariably osteoporotic.
	
		
			 Health authority 199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 
		
		
			 Avon 1,302 1,280 1,334 1,419 1,416 
			 Barking and Havering 442 425 438 563 487 
			 Barnet 205 344 349 421 484 
			 Barnsley 267 266 398 304 300 
			 Bedfordshire 487 516 646 592 573 
			 Berkshire 705 781 806 792 789 
			 Bexley and Greenwich 491 537 522 476 437 
			 Birmingham 1,090 1,123 1,093 1,322 1,161 
			 Bradford 500 511 639 582 598 
			 Brent and Harrow 459 510 443 419 140 
			 Bromley 437 426 438 503 496 
			 Buckinghamshire 651 664 775 904 852 
			 Bury and Rochdale 405 459 429 478 464 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 763 637 647 705 683 
			 Cambridge1,117 1,064 
			 Cambridge and Huntingdon 475 523 514   
			 Camden and Islington 427 422 413 447 411 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 624 1,042 1,082 1,090 908 
			 County Durham 779 797 871 901 859 
			 Coventry 362 347 422 430 378 
			 Croydon 349 262 281 341 233 
			 Doncaster 321 338 365 336 379 
			 Dorset 1,101 1,138 1,128 1,140 1,244 
			 Dudley 380 407 538 362 424 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 589 652 640 650 580 
			 East and North Hertfordshire 488 530 520 608 563 
			 East Kent 1,198 1,102 1,052 1,116 1,031 
			 East Lancashire 504 622 586 658 577 
			 East London and The City 605 526 561 632 599 
			 East Norfolk 1,211 1,309 1,390   
			 East Riding 176 95 682 720 637 
			 East Surrey 582 517 556 571 577 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 1,354 1,245 1,213 1,286 1,280 
			 Enfield and Haringey 437 434 437 449 468 
			 Foreign   152 142 93 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 474 587 528 605 621 
			 Gloucestershire 727 969 966 963 853 
			 Herefordshire 253 253 213 196 289 
			 Hillingdon 212 20 202 214 204 
			 Isle of Wight 228 229 214 191 237 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 364 420 396 422 447 
			 Kingston and Richmond 365 323 319 352 397 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 704 651 630 664 660 
			 Leeds 812 857 879 862 813 
			 Leicestershire 993 993 1,106 1,030 989 
			 Lincolnshire 845 766 887 860 874 
			 Liverpool 799 847 778 713 711 
			 Manchester 485 477 531 563 439 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 736 594 681 710 706 
			 Morecambe Bay 331 397 430 329 414 
			 Northern Ireland 6 3 0 5 0 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 647 633 717 743 676 
			 Norfolk1,763 1,811 
			 North and East Devon 792 997 1,156 1,127 1,301 
			 North and Mid Hampshire 566 571 544 636 735 
			 North Cheshire 276 303 301 358 328 
			 North Cumbria 435 408 502 559 510 
			 North Derbyshire 430 380 461 425 460 
			 North Essex 1,271 1,418 1,312 1,276 1,250 
			 North Nottinghamshire 417 469 500 543 528 
			 North Staffordshire 487 595 602 657 643 
			 North West Anglia 346 704 776   
			 North West Lancashire 814 770 817 839 614 
			 North Yorkshire 996 614 970 936 913 
			 Northamptonshire 409 677 697 779 782 
			 Northumberland 429 418 462 424 504 
			 Nottingham 846 813 826 803 758 
			 Oxfordshire 605 569 662 687 710 
			 Portsmouth and South East Hampshire 807 935 909 1,034 1,044 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 579 503 527 577 596 
			 Rotherham 245 226 289 287 240 
			 Salford and Trafford 555 448 486 540 568 
			 Sandwell 360 309 394 354 372 
			 Scotland 49 38 0 55 60 
			 Sefton 408 428 398 373 429 
			 Sheffield 784 710 734 649 745 
			 Shropshire 408 404 434 428 453 
			 Solihull 199 216 244 267 278 
			 Somerset 711 693 794 837 773 
			 South and West Devon 784 917 913 1,104 1,390 
			 South Cheshire 795 797 754 768 794 
			 South Derbyshire 504 647 622 658 637 
			 South Essex 1,364 1,104 1,136 1,316 1,153 
			 South Humber 279 328 342 360 401 
			 South Lancashire 318 314 425 391 389 
			 South Staffordshire 539 723 658 705 672 
			 Southampton and South West Hampshire 696 681 814 794 858 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley 342 329 370 336 383 
			 Stockport 313 296 360 378 348 
			 Suffolk 942 1,121 1,195 1,228 1,124 
			 Sunderland 345 370 415 378 388 
			 Tees 570 576 685 683 692 
			 Wakefield 301 300 342 315 349 
			 Wales 204 180 197 210 215 
			 Walsall 252 270 217 295 278 
			 Warwickshire 609 587 652 677 643 
			 West Hertfordshire 587 550 615 580 560 
			 West Kent 1,079 1,107 1,134 1,087 1,172 
			 West Pennine 453 500 491 508 551 
			 West Surrey 919 857 758 710 627 
			 West Sussex 1,179 1,242 1,006 1,115 1,174 
			 Wigan and Bolton 484 551 611 635 669 
			 Wiltshire 765 705 805 716 734 
			 Wirral 490 490 473 581 490 
			 Wolverhampton 238 162 228 266 321 
			 Worcestershire 739 720 720 765 710 
			 Not known 1,257 1,277 395 122 172 
			  
			 Total 60,718 62,307 64,967 66,792 65,814 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are presented by health authority areas of residence.
	Patients from other UK countries and abroad are indicated separately in the table.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) Department of Health

Hospital Patients

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of the Q4 200102 (a) emergency re-admissions and (b) delayed discharge figures in the Library, broken down by (i) age, (ii) region, (iii) health authority and (iv) reason.

Jacqui Smith: All the available information on emergency re-admissions and delayed transfers of care in Q4 200102 has been placed in the Library. This includes:
	number and rate of emergency re-admissions for patients aged 75 and over,
	length of delayed transfers of care for patients of all ages, numbers and rate of delayed transfers of care for patients aged 75 and over, and
	reasons for delayed transfers of care.
	Each set of figures is provided on a national, regional and health authority basis.

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for a second new linear accelerator for the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Plans for the future provision of a second new linear accelerator are the subject of on-going discussions by the North-west Midlands Cancer Network, of which the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital National Health Service Trust plays a key part.

Obesity

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will support the annual National Obesity Awareness Week organised by the Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust.

Hazel Blears: The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust (TOAST) is supported financially by the Department through the section 64 grant scheme. We support the National Obesity Awareness Week, which forms part of their healthy living events outlined in their action plan.

BTE Digital Hearing Aids

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many BTE digital hearing aids have been issued by the NHS in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001; and in each case what proportion of the cost was borne by (i) the NHS and (ii) employers.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has never collected information separately on the numbers of behind-the-ear (BTE) or in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids provided by the national health service. However, when the NHS issues hearing aids, the cost is borne by the NHS. I understand that the Department for Work and Pensions also issues hearing aids in some circumstances. That would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Children in Care

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of pupils living (a) in a residential care home and (b) with foster parents had special educational needs (i) with and (ii) without statements in the last five years for which figures are available broken down by (A) Government office region and (B) local education authority.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 June 2002
	This information is not collected centrally.

NHS Budget

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage increase in real terms of the budgets of (a) the NHS and (b) local authority personal social services has been in each year since 1997; and what the projected percentage increases are for each year for which planning assumptions have been made.

Jacqui Smith: The information is requested is set out in the tables.
	
		Table 1: NHS expenditure, 199697 to 200708
		
			  Year Net NHS expenditure ( billion) Percentage real terms increase 
		
		
			 199697 (17)33.0 -0.1 
			 199798 (17)34.7 2.0 
			 199899 (17)36.6 2.7 
			 19992000 (17)39.9 6.4 
			 200001 (17)44.2 7.8 
			 200102 (18)49.4 8.9 
			 200203 (19)53.7 6.1 
			 200304 (19)61.3 7.3 
			 200405 (19)67.4 7.3 
			 200506 (19)74.4 7.6 
			 200607 (19)81.8 7.3 
			 200708 (19)90.2 7.5 
		
	
	(17) Outturn
	(18) Estimated outturn
	(19) Plan
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure pre 200001 is shown on a cash basis.
	2. Expenditure figures from 200001 to 200203 are on a Stage 1 Resource Budgeting basis. This was introduced in April 2001 and introduced accruals accounting, ie accounting for resources consumed against cash paid out.
	3. Expenditure figures from 200304 to 200708 are on a Stage 2 Resource Budgeting basis (to be introduced from April 2003) and include non-cash items such as capital charges and the cost of new provisions.
	4. Because of the introduction of Resource Budgeting Stages 1 and 2, the figures are not consistent across the whole period.
	
		Table 2: Local authority expenditure on personal social services, 199697 to 200001
		
			 Year Outturn(20) ( million) Percentage increase 
		
		
			 199697 8,991  
			 199798 9,284 3.3 
			 199899 9,677 4.2 
			 19992000 10,483 8.3 
			 200001(21) 10,963 4.6 
		
	
	(20) Outturn figures at 200102 prices.
	(21) Latest available figures.
	Notes:
	No planning figures are available for future years because local authorities set budgets once central Government allocations are announced, and decisions have been taken locally about council tax.
	However, following the 2002 Spending Review total personal social service resources (as allocated by central Government) are set to increase by on average 6 per cent. per annum in real terms over the next three years200304 to 200506.